What's eating my golden crocus?

Golden Crocus (Crocus chrysanthus) is most commonly damaged by squirrels, mice, and voles, which dig up and eat the small corms. Birds — especially sparrows and house sparrows — peck open the flowers for nectar. Aphids occasionally infest foliage in spring, and vine weevil grubs may attack corms underground.

Corms dug up and eaten shortly after planting or over winter; plants simply fail to emerge. Cover newly planted corms with wire mesh or grit; plant in buried wire baskets; use a physical cage around the bed.

Flowers pecked open or pulled apart, usually targeting yellow or white forms first. Stretch black thread or netting just above flower level; humming tape deters birds; remove once blooms fade.

Small colonies on stems and leaf bases in spring; leaves may yellow and distort. Squash by hand; apply insecticidal soap; plants recover quickly after flowering.

Grubs eat corms underground, causing plants to collapse with no visible above-ground cause. Apply pathogenic nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist soil in autumn; repot container plants and inspect for grubs.