Are slugs active during the day?

They prefer the dark and damp, so you will rarely see them in the heat of the afternoon. Check your plants after sunset.

Do I need to use chemicals?

Not usually. Physical barriers and handpicking are very effective for small garden patches.

Hepatica: pests, causes and fixes

Check these first

Look for slime trails on the soil surface.
Check under the leaves during the evening.
Inspect the base of the plant for hiding pests.

Likely causes

Slugs and Snails
Most likely
How to tell: You will find irregular holes in the foliage and sometimes a telltale slime trail nearby. They are most active during wet spring weather.
What to do: Handpick the pests at night when they are feeding. You can also place a shallow dish of beer near the plant to trap them.
Overcrowding
Possible
How to tell: Dense foliage provides a cool, damp hiding spot for pests during the day. If the area stays too wet, they will stay and feed longer.
What to do: Clear away dead leaves and debris from around the base of the plant. This removes the moist hiding spots that slugs love.

Pests on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your hepatica

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

When to worry

Worry if the entire plant is being defoliated, as this prevents it from storing energy for next year. A few small holes are just a normal part of garden life.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the area around your Hepatica clean of debris and use copper tape or crushed eggshells around the base to deter mollusks.

Hepatica: pests? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your hepatica and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Are slugs active during the day?: They prefer the dark and damp, so you will rarely see them in the heat of the afternoon. Check your plants after sunset.
Do I need to use chemicals?: Not usually. Physical barriers and handpicking are very effective for small garden patches.

Guides to these causes

Slugs and Snails

Why are there holes in my Common Hepatica leaves?

Check these first

Not sure what's wrong with your hepatica?