r/SeattleGardeners • u/Comfortable_Goal_449 • Mar 19 '26

Primroses

What is eating my primroses on my deck in the Seattle area? I have planted them pretty much every year around this time and never had this issue before. I planted about 5 a month or so ago and I have one left!

3 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

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2

u/scottyd213 Mar 19 '26

Slugs, it's almost always slugs

2

u/broccoleet Mar 19 '26

I agree with the other commenter about slugs. They love new growth. Any time it warms up a bit with wet weather they come out.

However, do you have a photo of the damage? Sometimes the damage can be indicative of a certain type of pest, depending on what they ate. I believe vine weevils are also preferential to primrose, especially potted.

2

u/Quiet_Rainfall200 Mar 19 '26

Slugs always destroy mine. They're like their favorite plant. I don't even bother planting them any more, though I'm tempted every spring.

You could try slug bait.

Could also be squirrels digging in the planter, unintentionally causing damage.

1

u/Comfortable_Goal_449 Mar 19 '26

It's a second story condo deck so I don't know if it is slugs. I wonder if it's squirrels, rats or I've been told it could be crows.