Pest identification
What's eating my crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer'?
Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae)
Signs: Fine pale stippling across leaves; fine webbing on undersides in severe cases; foliage bronzes early.
Control: Mist foliage to raise humidity; spray with dilute neem oil; introduce predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis.
Thrips
Signs: Silver streaking and scarring on leaves and orange-red flower petals; worst in dry summers.
Control: Keep plants well-watered; use yellow sticky traps to monitor; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Aphids
Signs: Soft colonies on emerging spring shoots; honeydew and sooty mold; some leaf distortion.
Control: Knock off with water jets or insecticidal soap; encourage ladybirds and hoverflies nearby.
Rabbits
Signs: Leaves and stems grazed down, especially in spring when corms push up fresh growth.
Control: Protect with wire mesh guards around clumps; use rabbit repellent spray on surrounding vegetation.
Keep crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Lucifer' pests — FAQ
What is eating my crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer'?
Crocosmia 'Lucifer' is generally robust but spider mites and thrips can mark the leaves and flowers in hot summers. Aphids colonise new shoots in spring. The corms attract vine weevil larvae in containers. Rabbits and deer will browse the foliage in open borders. Spider mites are the most troublesome pest in warm, dry seasons.
How do I get rid of spider mites (tetranychus urticae) on crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer'?
Fine pale stippling across leaves; fine webbing on undersides in severe cases; foliage bronzes early. Mist foliage to raise humidity; spray with dilute neem oil; introduce predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis.
How do I get rid of thrips on crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer'?
Silver streaking and scarring on leaves and orange-red flower petals; worst in dry summers. Keep plants well-watered; use yellow sticky traps to monitor; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil.
How do I get rid of aphids on crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer'?
Soft colonies on emerging spring shoots; honeydew and sooty mold; some leaf distortion. Knock off with water jets or insecticidal soap; encourage ladybirds and hoverflies nearby.
How do I get rid of rabbits on crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer'?
Leaves and stems grazed down, especially in spring when corms push up fresh growth. Protect with wire mesh guards around clumps; use rabbit repellent spray on surrounding vegetation.