What's eating my crocus chrysanthus 'cream beauty'?

Crocus chrysanthus 'Cream Beauty' is a small early-season crocus vulnerable to birds pecking blooms and squirrels or mice digging corms. Its compact size makes it easier for slugs to damage. Voles tunnel to corms underground. Like most chrysanthus types it has some rodent resistance compared with large Dutch crocus, but bird damage on early blooms is significant.

Petals stripped or whole blooms removed, often before they fully open in late winter. Net beds or stretch black cotton thread 10 cm above bloom height; fleece protection during peak bloom.

Small corms dug up and eaten; patchy emergence after autumn planting. Cover planting area with chicken wire pegged flat for the first season; plant in wire-mesh cages for permanent plantings.

Ragged grazing on delicate early shoots as they break the soil surface. Apply iron phosphate pellets at shoot emergence; use sharp horticultural grit as a surface mulch around clumps.