Eremurus: Planting and Care

When to plant Eremurus?

Plant your eremurus preferably in autumn, ideally in October. This timing allows the fleshy roots to establish before the arrival of severe frosts, promoting better growth in spring. If you’ve missed this window, you can still plant your Eremurus in early winter, until December, or even January in regions with mild winters. However, the later the planting, the more important it is to protect the roots from the cold with a good mulch.

Where to plant Eremurus?

Eremurus thrive in very sunny positions, sheltered from strong winds which can damage their flower spikes. They will do best in a south-facing location.

They absolutely require very well-drained soil, otherwise the bulb may rot in winter. Unless your soil is extremely porous (sandy substrate and sloping ground), you’ll need to improve drainage: this is the key to successfully growing this exceptional plant.

Indeed, Eremurus dislike heavy, clay soils as they retain moisture in winter, which the bulbs absolutely cannot tolerate.

While they accept poor soils, they prefer rich ones, which is why we recommend adding well-rotted compost. Additionally, they tolerate chalky soils quite well.

Eremurus ‘Pinokkio’ (photo JM Berkel)

How to plant Eremurus?

Planting Eremurus, or foxtail lilies, requires some care as this plant does not like being moved once well established. Take the time to properly prepare its location.

The “bulbs” of Eremurus are actually fleshy roots arranged in a star shape around a central bud. These tentacle-like roots are fragile. It is normal for some to be slightly damaged or broken during handling—this will not affect the plant’s growth. These roots mainly serve to stabilise the future flower spike in its early stages.

Spacing:
Space plants 60 cm to 1 m apart, depending on the height of the chosen varieties. Taller varieties, which can reach up to 2 metres, need more room to develop harmoniously. For a striking visual effect, plant them in groups of 3 to 5 bulbs to create beautiful floral clumps.

To plant your Eremurus, follow these steps:

• Choose a spot in full sun, with light, well-drained, fertile soil. Enrich the soil with well-rotted compost to provide essential nutrients.
• Dig a wide hole about 15 cm deep. Eremurus needs space for its spreading roots.
• Loosen the bottom of the hole and add a layer of gravel or coarse sand (5 to 10 cm thick). This drainage is crucial to prevent waterlogging, the main cause of root rot.
• Gently place the bulb on the drainage layer, with the bud facing upwards. Spread out the tentacle-like roots without bending them as much as possible.
• Cover the bulb with about 8 cm of a mix of garden soil, compost, and coarse sand. Eremurus thrives in rich but well-aerated soil.
• Lightly firm the soil to remove air pockets, then water moderately. Overwatering could encourage rot, especially in heavy soil.

Eremurus should be planted on a drainage layer (here, gravel)

You can also plant your Eremurus in a pot, where it does very well:

• Choose a large enough pot, with a minimum diameter of 40 cm for taller varieties and 30 cm for shorter ones.
• Add a drainage layer of gravel and sand at the bottom of the pot.
• Use a mix of sand, compost, and potting soil.
• Place the bulb with the roots curving downwards.
• Cover with 8 cm of soil.
• Water lightly.

In pots, the substrate dries out faster than in the ground. We recommend watering sparingly, only when the soil is dry on the surface.

How to care for eremurus after planting?

Eremurus require almost no maintenance. They can easily overwinter in the ground, provided the soil is well-drained. They tolerate drought well but dislike excessive moisture. They flower from late spring (April or May), then go dormant in early summer.

• We recommend cutting back the flower spike after flowering.
• Eremurus cope very well with summer drought but may need occasional watering in spring, especially if grown in pots. Water sparingly if spring is particularly dry.
• Stake the tallest varieties if planted in windy areas.
• You can propagate them by dividing clumps every three to five years, or by sowing seeds in autumn (though they will take several years to start flowering).
• We advise adding compost in spring as Eremurus are hungry plants that thrive in rich soil. Apply fertiliser if grown in containers.