What's eating my coral lily?

Coral lily (Lilium pumilum) is a slender, small-flowered species that is still fully targeted by the scarlet lily beetle. Because its stems are finer, larval defoliation can kill the plant faster than on larger species. Aphids vector viruses. Slugs are a real hazard in spring when the diminutive shoots are at their most vulnerable.

Larvae rapidly consume the limited leaf area of this compact species — even light infestations can prevent flowering and deplete the bulb Frequent hand-picking is essential given the plant's small size; neem oil spray applied weekly as soon as adults appear in spring

Clusters on stems transmit lily viruses, producing yellow mosaic patterns on foliage and weak, stunted flower spikes Insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; remove infected bulbs from the garden to prevent reservoir of virus

Chew holes in emerging shoots at soil level in spring; young coral lily stems are thin and can be severed entirely overnight Ferric phosphate slug pellets around emerging shoots; coarse grit mulch as a surface barrier; hand-collect at dusk