What's eating my carpathian bellflower?

Carpathian bellflower's compact, low mounds are mainly threatened by slugs and snails eating the soft foliage, and by vine weevil larvae destroying roots in containers. Aphids and thrips can also appear on flower stems. The plant is otherwise trouble-free and rarely suffers serious pest damage when grown in well-drained, open positions.

Holes chewed through leaves and flowers; low-growing mounds are especially vulnerable as foliage sits close to the moist soil surface. Apply ferric phosphate pellets around plants in spring; use copper tape on containers; handpick and dispose at dusk.

Adults create U-shaped notches around leaf margins; larvae devour roots causing plants to wilt suddenly, most damaging in pots. Drench pot compost with Steinernema kraussei nematodes in late summer or autumn; inspect roots when repotting.

Small soft insects massing on flower stems and buds; distorted growth and sticky honeydew on leaves and surrounding surfaces. Remove with a strong spray of water; treat with insecticidal soap; encourage ladybirds and other natural predators.