What's eating my coral bells?

Coral bells is primarily a foliage perennial plagued outdoors by vine weevil, whose grubs destroy roots and crowns. Slugs and foliar nematodes damage leaves in wet conditions. Deer and rabbits browse the rosettes. In containers, vine weevil is the most devastating threat; in borders, slugs and deer top the list.

Irregular notches chewed in leaf edges by adults; creamy grubs devour roots causing sudden plant collapse Apply nematode drench (Steinernema kraussei) in late summer; check pot compost for C-shaped grubs; use vine weevil-resistant container compost

Holes and ragged edges in leaves; slime trails on and around the crown Iron phosphate pellets; copper tape around pots; hand-pick at night; reduce mulch thickness around crown

Entire rosettes browsed flat, especially in autumn and early spring when other food is scarce Deer repellent sprays; protective caging for individual plants; plant in deer-resistant borders with strongly scented neighbours

Clean-cut stems and leaf rosettes nibbled at ground level Wire mesh fencing (buried 15 cm underground); rabbit repellent sprays around planting