What's eating my oxalis tetraphylla?

Oxalis tetraphylla (Iron Cross oxalis) is a bulbous garden and container plant. Aphids are the most common pest, clustering on soft stems. Outdoors, slugs and snails eat the clover-like leaves. Vine weevil grubs can attack the bulbs in containers. Rabbits and deer will browse the foliage if plants are garden-sited without protection.

Soft insects cluster on petioles and new growth; yellowing, sticky deposits; colonies can be green, black or pink Knock off with water spray; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat every 5–7 days; encourage ladybirds outdoors

Irregular holes through clover-like leaflets; slime trails; young growth eaten back to stalk Iron phosphate pellets scattered around plants; copper tape on containers; hand-pick at night after watering

Larvae consume the bulbs, causing wilting and plant collapse in pots; adults leave smooth-edged notches in leaf margins Apply Steinernema kraussei nematodes to containers in late summer/autumn; inspect and discard infested bulbs when lifting in autumn

Stems and leaves grazed to ground level, especially damaging in spring when growth is tender Protect garden plantings with wire mesh or low fencing; grow in raised containers on a patio to reduce access