What's eating my lobed tickseed?

Lobed Tickseed (Coreopsis auriculata), a low-growing woodland-edge native, can be grazed by slugs and snails in shaded moist gardens. Aphids target new growth in spring. Leafhoppers may introduce aster yellows, deforming flowers. The plant's compact, mat-forming habit makes it attractive to voles, which tunnel beneath and eat roots.

Soft-bodied colonies on spring growth and flower stems; honeydew deposits; mild leaf curl. Spray with insecticidal soap or water; attract beneficials by avoiding chemical sprays nearby.

Ragged holes in leaves and flowers, particularly in shaded, moist garden positions; slime trails visible. Apply iron phosphate pellets around plants; water in mornings; use grit or copper tape as a barrier.

Greened, deformed flower petals; witches'-broom growth; no effective treatment once infected. Remove infected plants immediately; keep the surrounding area weed-free; use sticky traps to monitor populations.

Root and crown damage from tunnelling beneath mat-forming clumps; plants wilt and collapse with no obvious above-ground cause. Install buried wire mesh (hardware cloth) barriers; use vole-repellent bait stations in runs; clear ground-cover near beds.