What's eating my crocus?

Squirrels and mice are the most damaging threats to crocus corms, digging them up to eat within days of planting. Voles tunnel underground and consume corms without showing above ground. Sparrows and starlings may shred yellow crocus flowers. Aphids occasionally attack foliage but rarely cause serious harm. Plant under wire mesh to stop burrowing animals.

Corms dug up and eaten shortly after planting; disturbed soil and missing plants with no trace above ground. Lay wire mesh (hardware cloth) flat over the planting area just below soil surface, or use a wire basket around bulbs. Planting in clusters with thorny shrubs nearby also deters them.

Corms eaten underground with no surface disturbance; plants simply fail to emerge in spring. Set snap traps in active runways; line planting holes with gravel or wire mesh. Keep mulch thin to reduce vole cover.

Petals of yellow crocus varieties are pecked off, leaving bare stems; purple varieties are largely left alone. Criss-cross black thread or netting above flowers; reflective ribbon or bird-deterrent tape nearby. Yellow varieties need most protection.