Category Archives: Lily Beetle

Lilies and the pesky beetles

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This question was asked by
– Julia Holden – 

We have quite a large number of Lilies and are plagued by lily beetle. We’ve tried picking them off but it’s impossible to keep up with them all and they seem to overwinter in the soil. We’ve tried grazers and pro anti spray but with limited success. We’ve reached the pointed of giving up and removing the plants but don’t want to. Is there anything else we can do?

Lily beetle

Thank you for your message — we really feel for you. Dealing with lily beetles, especially in a large collection, can be incredibly frustrating. You’re not alone — many gardeners are facing the same battle right now, particularly after the mild winters which have helped these pests survive in greater numbers.

We completely understand why you’re feeling disheartened, but don’t give up just yet — there are still a few things you can try that may improve the situation:

1. Neem Oil Treatment:
If you haven’t already, we highly recommend trying Neem Oil. It’s an organic solution that acts as both a deterrent and an insect growth regulator, disrupting the beetles’ lifecycle. It’s safe to use even when your lilies are in bloom and can help reduce the population over time.

2. Early Season Prevention:
Next season, start applying a prevention spray (such as Grazers or a garlic-based spray) as soon as the lily shoots emerge. This is key — once the foliage absorbs the treatment early on, it can make the leaves taste bitter and discourage beetles from feeding or laying eggs.

3. Improve Winter Hygiene:
After flowering, make sure to clear away all old foliage and any mulch or soil where beetles could overwinter. You might also try lifting and inspecting the bulbs in autumn if the infestation has been especially severe.

4. Companion Planting:
Some gardeners find that planting strongly scented herbs or companion plants (such as garlic or mint) nearby can help mask the scent of the lilies and deter beetles.

5. Encourage Natural Predators:
Birds such as starlings, blackbirds and robins will feed on lily beetles and their larvae. Creating a bird-friendly environment can offer some natural control.

We know you’ve worked hard on your lilies, and it would be such a shame to lose them. With a more aggressive multi-step approach next season, it’s very possible to turn things around.

The Hart Family

Lily beetles

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This question was asked by
– Linda Swales – 

I bought some large lily bulbs from you a couple of years ago at Harrogate flower show. They are fantastic!
Can you tell me how to control Lily Beetles, I must have “removed” over 30 of them this year. I have also the black eggs covered in their excrement.
Regards
Mrs Swales

Good afternoon,

Thank you so much for getting in touch — we’re delighted to hear your lilies from Harrogate are still going strong and looking fantastic!

Lily beetles are unfortunately a persistent nuisance for lily growers, and it sounds like you’ve done a great job already spotting and removing both the beetles and their rather unpleasant-looking larvae.

Here are our top tips for keeping them under control:

1. Early Prevention:
Start checking your lilies regularly from early spring as soon as growth appears — the earlier you catch the beetles, the better. Daily checks are ideal, especially in warm weather.

2. Physical Removal:
As you’ve already been doing, hand-picking the bright red adults and squashing or disposing of them is effective. Keep an eye on the undersides of leaves for the orangey-red eggs and remove those too.

3. Neem Oil Spray:
Neem oil is a natural, organic deterrent that interferes with the beetle’s feeding and breeding cycle. Spray it onto the foliage, paying special attention to leaf undersides. This can be especially helpful if your lilies are already blooming and you want to avoid chemicals.

4. Lily Beetle Prevention Spray:
We also recommend using a dedicated lily beetle prevention spray early in the season, ideally when the first shoots appear. Spraying early allows the solution to be absorbed into the plant, making the foliage taste bitter to beetles. Lily Beetle Prevention Spray (SKU17972)

5. Clean-Up After Flowering:
Once your lilies have finished blooming, remove any dead foliage and debris from around the base of the plant. This reduces overwintering spots for beetles and larvae.

Despite their best efforts, many gardeners have to repeat treatments every year — but with your vigilance, your lilies should continue to thrive!

The Hart Family

Reusing lily bulbs that suffered badly with red lily beetle last year

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This question was asked by
– Dawn L

Pots were left to winter outside as they were infested with red lily beetle. Can I still take the bulbs out wash and air dry in greenhouse to reuse this year? Many thanks.

Yes, you can likely reuse the lily bulbs if they were only infested with red lily beetles and not other issues. First, thoroughly clean the bulbs by removing any visible debris and washing them gently under water. Then, allow them to air dry in a greenhouse or other protected, warm environment. Once dry, you can plant them as usual.

Tips for Preventing Future Infestations:

    • Inspect lilies early for red lily beetle larvae and adults during the growing season.

Reusing your bulbs after a beetle infestation is possible as long as you take these steps to ensure they’re clean and healthy. Hopefully, this will help you enjoy a beautiful lily display again this year!

Lily Beetle Black mess

Damaged caused by Red Lily beetle

Red Scarlet lily Beetle on Plant. Lilioceris lilii

Planting Lilly bulbs in containers

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This question was asked by
– Jake

Hello,

Yesterday I bought 5x Viva-La-Vida Lilly bulbs at the Gardeners World Live exhibition. Please can you advise on the following?

1. What size pot should I use?
2. How many bulbs per pot?
3. Soil/compost potting mix requirements for container growing?
4. Should they be planted now, or wait until a more appropriate time of the year?
5. Planting requirements such as bulb depth/ spacing/ etc.
6. Watering requirements.
7. Over wintering requirements.

Thank you.

Jake.

Plant your bulbs straight away and they will flower this year still, usually in 10 to 12 weeks. They will be just a little later this year but return to their usual flowering cycle next year.

Planting Advice for Lilies:

 

    • Simply plant with the growing tip pointing upwards and the roots below and cover the top of the bulb with 4-6” (10-15cm) of soil (see each variety for which soil type to use).

 

    • If planting in pots, plant 3 bulbs in a 10-14” (25-35cm) ‘patio type’ pot. You can plant more in a larger pot or less in a smaller pot. It really depends on the display you would like to achieve. You can also stagger the planting, using different lilies to achieve different heights.

 

    • Lilies can tolerate very cold conditions but they do not like to get wet so ensure the pot has adequate drainage holes. You can horticultural grit/sand to your soil to encourage good drainage.

 

    • Most lilies prefer to be planted in a location with at least half a day’s full sunshine, if it’s a bit too shady they will lean their stems towards the sun. Unless you have Martagon lilies, as these actually like their head in the sun but feet in the shade.

 

    • Lilies are generally happy in a good-quality, peat-free, multi-purpose compost.

 

 

Overwintering

 

    • When the Lily has finished flowering, cut any seed heads back and allow the foliage to die back naturally. Do not be tempted to cut the stem back until stems become hollow and brown.

 

    • Believe it or not, lilies like a cold-dormant phase and like to be left where they are during winter, just ensure there is adequate drainage so they can’t get waterlogged. Lilies are very hardy and can tolerate up to -20°c.

 

    • Many people have lilies for a cut flower garden, if you do wish to cut lilies for indoor arrangements, then ensure to leave 50cm of stem to allow for another season of flower the following year.

 

 

Care Guide

 

    • To prevent Lily Beetles from damaging your lilies, we recommend using the Lily Beetle Prevention Spray or you can make up your own with the Concentrate. This Spray (Grazers G4) will also stimulate growth of your lilies.

 

    • You can feed your lilies with a diluted Tomato Feed to stimulate and strengthen your lilies when you start to see signs of growth. Make up your tomato feed with half the recommended dilution (written on the instructions on the bottle) and feed once every 3 weeks.

The Hart Family

Red lily beetles

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This question was asked by
– Jane H

My poor martagon lillies were infested last year with red lily beetle. I picked them off every day, but still the came. Do you think sticky on the stem would help or do the fly in? Any suggestions please.

Hi there
They are a nuisance those beetles.
We have a lily beetle prevention spray and concentrate you can purchase to help combat the lily beetles.

Lily Beetle Prevention Concentrate (SKU179721)

Lily Beetle Prevention Spray (SKU17972)

Lily Beetle Prevention Spray £6.95

The Hart Family

What compost or mix of composts do I use for the lilies?

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This question was asked by
– Elizabeth B

I have just ordered some Oriental lily bulbs from you to grow in large clay pots. What is the best compost to use? Do I need to add sand as some sites advise? How do I prevent the dreaded Lily Beetle?? I can start them in a cold greenhouse.

Hi there,
You can mix John Innes No.3 with a good quality Multi-purpose compost (50:50 mix). Adding horticultural grit for drainage is recommended.

We have a Grazers G4 spray or concentrate you can purchase for the lily beetle.

Lily Beetle Prevention Concentrate (SKU179721)

Lily Beetle Prevention Spray (SKU17972)

Lily bulbs

The Hart Family

Red Lily Beetle

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This question was asked by
– Pearl T

Is there a way to prevent lily beetles, I pick them off but they are devastating them?

Hi Pearl

Lily Beetles are such a pain aren’t they? To get rid of them, you could try making a garlic solution (crushed garlic and water) or purchasing our lily beetle prevention spray.

Lily Beetle Prevention Spray (SKU17972)

The Hart Family

Lily Beetle Advice

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This question was asked by
– Glenys –  

Hi, I am a lover of lilies but alas, so many succumb to the dreaded lily beetle. Apart from picking them off by hand which is never ending with the many that I grow, can you advise on any beetle resistant lilies and what sprays can be used/home made possibly, bearing in mind that I garden organically.

Thanks for your help, Glenys

You could try our lily beetle prevention spray which is environmentally friendly or you could make up your own garlic solution. Crush a whole corm of garlic in a small pan of boiling water. Allow to cool, strain and put in a small container in the fridge. When using, dilute three parts water to one part garlic solution. Spray often, every few days, especially when it has rained. There is a garlic product available in garden centres and stores, but this is a much cheaper alternative.

Lily beetle

The Hart Family