Agapanthus gone missing

9 years ago

I moved into my new house last year and noticed something funny with the Agapanthus growing in my front yard. The flowers never seem to reach full bloom. Before they fully bloom, the flowers are seemingly cleanly cut at the top of the stem. So I end up with a bunch of stems sticking up and no flowers.

At first I suspected deer, as the leaves also were chewed on, so I took some action like spraying deer repellent and so forth this winter.

Spring is here and the Agapanthus are blooming. The leaves no longer are chewed on and my other plants look free from deer feasting, but this morning I noticed two of the Agapanthus bulbs look cleanly cut at the top just like last year, and nothing on the ground. Other bulbs remain untouched. If this is the same issue as before, these bulbs will eventually meet the same fate.

Now for the weird part. Earlier this year I caught my neighbor sneaking into my front yard, thinking I wasn't home, and snipping some of my Calla Lilies for herself with a pair of scissors. I had a talk with her, but I am paranoid she is the one doing this to my Agapanthus. I am actually considering installing a security camera now!

Help! Is it my neighbor or could it be something?

Comments (4)

wantonamara Z8 CenTex
9 years ago
Maybe it is a snail or a bug. I was blaming the deer for whacking my Liatris when they were young and tender. I did notice some spit bug spit around the stem but thought nothing of it. All the stems were cut off at the same place everywhere. . I then thought about those spit globules that had been on them the other day. This year I have been doing the thumb rub on whatever is inside and so far, the liatris is un eaten. . It is not over till the fat Lady sings and maybe I saved it from the bug for the deer to eat.
anne4realestate
8 years ago
I have the same exact problem. I'm living in a gated 300 unit townhouse complex with no deer or wild animals other than an occasional possum, raccoon a squirrels.

I just took a walk and noticed 100s of cut-off Agapanthus (peter Pan) buds or crowns missing here and there but mostly where there are no windows or owners around. The crowns or buds seems to be cut off at the very top with a sharp object and are nowhere to be found! Who/what is this? Please let us know because it's driving me and my neighbors crazy spring after spring.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
Apparently missing agapanthus buds is not all that uncommon :-) Although I have no personal experience with this critter, those in the know attribute the damage to "lubbers", Eastern lubber grasshoppers. It appears they are very attracted to the flower buds of a wide range of ornamentals in the Liliaceae and Amarylidaceae (where agapanthus was once located before being assigned its own family).
Romalea microptera - eastern lubber grasshopper
Patricia Burt
7 years ago
I live in California. I have just noticed the all bud/tops cut cleanly off five of the six agapanthus plants on the other side of my fence. I was all set to blame the neighbor kids so glad I found this. Either way - insect or kid it's very upsetting!