Pest identification
What's eating my naked crocus?
Squirrels and mice
Signs: Corms dug up in late summer and autumn; plants missing or reduced in subsequent years.
Control: Plant under wire mesh; use buried wire cages in susceptible areas; sharp-grit mulch reduces digging.
Birds
Signs: Naked flowers pecked open at ground level; petals scattered.
Control: Black cotton thread stretched above flower height; naturalising in longer grass offers some protection.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Flowers and lower stems chewed during wet autumn spells.
Control: Iron phosphate bait around plants; hand-pick at night.
Keep naked crocus pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Naked Crocus pests — FAQ
What is eating my naked crocus?
Naked Crocus (Crocus nudiflorus), a Spanish-origin autumn-bloomer with flowers that appear before leaves, is most threatened by rodents digging its corms and by birds pecking the exposed blooms. Slugs may damage flowers in wet conditions. It naturalises in grass, which provides some camouflage against bird damage.
How do I get rid of squirrels and mice on naked crocus?
Corms dug up in late summer and autumn; plants missing or reduced in subsequent years. Plant under wire mesh; use buried wire cages in susceptible areas; sharp-grit mulch reduces digging.
How do I get rid of birds on naked crocus?
Naked flowers pecked open at ground level; petals scattered. Black cotton thread stretched above flower height; naturalising in longer grass offers some protection.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on naked crocus?
Flowers and lower stems chewed during wet autumn spells. Iron phosphate bait around plants; hand-pick at night.