What's eating my empress wu hosta?

Empress Wu, the largest hosta cultivar, is heavily targeted by slugs and deer — its enormous leaves are an unmissable food source. Vine weevil grubs can devastate the massive root system. Rabbits occasionally browse young shoots. Slug management and deer deterrents are essential from the moment new growth pushes in spring.

Large ragged holes through the broad leaf blades; damage worst after rain or irrigation at night Use iron phosphate pellets generously around the crown; encourage ground beetles by avoiding broad-spectrum pesticides; apply grit mulch to deter slug movement

Leaves and petioles stripped, sometimes entire crowns grazed flat overnight Use tall fencing or deer-repellent sprays reapplied after rain; interplant with deer-resistant species such as lavender or salvia as a deterrent border

Root grubs sever the substantial root crown, causing wilting and plant collapse; adult notching visible on leaf edges Apply pathogenic nematodes to moist soil in late summer; check root balls when dividing for C-shaped white grubs and destroy them