What's eating my iris 'katharine hodgkin'?

Iris 'Katharine Hodgkin' is a small hybrid Iris histrioides × Iris winogradowii bulbous iris that flowers in late winter. Slugs and vine weevil are its main foes — the tiny bulbs and soft early foliage are very vulnerable. Aphids may target emerging buds. Iris borer is not typically an issue for this small bulbous type.

Leaves and flower buds eaten at or near soil level in the late-winter damp; severe attacks destroy the whole above-ground plant. Apply iron phosphate pellets around planting sites in late autumn and late winter. Plant in sharply drained gritty soil or pots where slugs are less prevalent.

C-shaped white larvae eat the small bulbs underground, causing plants to collapse suddenly; adult notches appear on leaf margins. Apply nematode treatment (Steinernema kraussei) to soil in autumn. Use vine-weevil-free compost in pots; repot annually and inspect for larvae.

Small colonies on emerging flower stems and buds in late winter to early spring, causing distortion. Pinch off affected tips; spray with insecticidal soap or a dilute neem solution; plant in exposed, well-ventilated spots to deter colonies.