What's eating my summer snowflake?

Summer Snowflake (Leucojum aestivum) is a robust, waterside-tolerant bulb. Slugs and snails are the most common nuisance, attacking emerging foliage. Narcissus bulb fly can tunnel into bulbs. In meadow or wet settings, rabbits may browse shoots despite mild toxicity. Aphids sometimes colonise flower stems in warm springs.

Ragged holes and slime trails on broad strap leaves; flower stems nibbled at ground level Apply iron phosphate slug pellets around clumps; use grit or sharp sand mulch; hand-pick in the evening

Larva bores into bulb; weak, grassy foliage and no flowers the following season Net the foliage area after flowering until midsummer; remove and dispose of hollow or soft bulbs found when dividing clumps

Clusters on flower stems and buds; honeydew and sooty mould; distorted or sticky stems Knock off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap; encourage hoverflies and ladybirds by planting companion flowers nearby