Lily beetle
The dreaded lily beetle is a handsome beast but it is also a destructive pest with very poor hygiene. When its larvae hatch they take up residence on the underside of the leaves and coat themselves in their own excrement. They then set about shredding the leaves and a bad infestation can destroy a plant.
Start patrolling your lilies as soon as they emerge, looking for the bright red beetles. Approach with caution, if your shadow falls on the plant, or you touch the leaves, it will drop to the ground, lie on its back and be impossible to spot. I find that putting a hand underneath the leaf where it is perched works quite well (use a yogurt pot or a match box if you would rather not touch it). I then tap the plant and catch it as it falls. I squish them, but you may prefer other methods.
Lily beetles start to emerge in early spring and will target your lilies right through to June. Look out for them on any early flowering fritillaries (including Fritillaria imperialis) before your lilies emerge.
Slugs & snails
Slugs and snails will feast on lilies, especially the young growth – a protective layer of sharp grit will deter them, as will wildlife friendly slug pellets, or a regular night patrol to remove them.
Vine weevils
Vine weevils can kill lilies by eating the roots and the base of the bulb. If you tug gently on the stem and it comes up in your hand you may have an infestation. Check your plants by torchlight at night when the grey-brown adults will be silhouetted on the leaf edges and pick them off. Alternatively, use a biological vine weevil killer.
Lily disease
A fungal disease that causes oval brown spots on the leaves. This can spread and destroy the leaves. Collect and destroy any affected part of the plant and dispose of it before it falls to the ground and spreads the infection.
Basal rot
Basal rot is a fungal infection that can cause the roots and the base of the bulb to rot. Dig up and destroy any affected lilies and do not replant lilies in the same spot as the fungus can continue to lurk in the soil.
Why are my lilies dying?
It could be lily beetles; a bad infestation can destroy a plant. If there are lots of holes in the leaves and nasty black gunk on the underside of the that’s a sure sign. Or it could be vine weevils - if you tug gently on the stem and it comes up in your hand you may have vine weevils eating the roots and base of the bulb.
Why are my lilies drooping?
Lilies are thirsty plants – make sure you water regularly while they are growing and flowering but avoid overwatering.
What eats lily bulbs?
Vine weevils will kill the plant by eating the roots and base of the bulb, rodents can be a problem and a hungry deer or rabbit will nibble anything!
Why are my lily leaves turning brown?
It could be a fungal disease called Lily disease - oval brown spots appear on the leaves and can spread and ultimately kill them. Collect and destroy any affected part of the plant and dispose of it before it falls to the ground and spreads the infection.
Why are my lily bulbs not growing?
The bulbs may have dried out before or after planting. Bulbs should be plump and fleshy when you plant them.
