What's eating my true lily?

True lilies (Lilium spp.) face serious threats in the garden. The scarlet lily beetle is the most damaging pest in the UK and is spreading in the US Northeast; its larvae skeletonise leaves rapidly. Aphids and slugs also attack, and deer are a major problem — they browse stems and flower buds to the ground.

Bright red adults and their orange-brown larval clusters eat leaves, stems, and buds; severe defoliation can kill bulbs over multiple seasons Handpick adults and larvae (check undersides of leaves); destroy egg masses; spray with pyrethrin-based insecticide or spinosad as a last resort; check plants daily in spring and early summer

Colonies of green or grey-green insects cluster on buds and growing tips; cause distorted shoots and transmit lily mosaic virus Blast off with a strong jet of water; use insecticidal soap spray; encourage ladybirds and lacewings; avoid over-feeding with nitrogen which promotes soft growth

Emerging shoots eaten at soil level in spring; ragged holes in leaves and flower petals after wet nights Apply iron phosphate slug pellets around emerging shoots; use copper tape on pots; go out at night to handpick; encourage hedgehogs and ground beetles

Stems and buds browsed off cleanly, often leaving just a bare stalk; heavy browsing prevents flowering for the season Install deer netting or fencing; apply deer repellent sprays to foliage (reapply after rain); plant lilies in a walled or fenced garden where possible