Eremurus - Foxtail Lily: Planting and Growing

Botany and description

The genus Eremurus belongs to the Liliaceae family (formerly classified in the Asphodelaceae) and comprises around sixty species. Among these, we can mention Eremurus robustus, the tallest with pale pink flower spikes, Eremurus himalaicus, native to the Himalayas with pure white flowers, Eremurus bungeï (syn: Eremurus stenophyllus), smaller with bright yellow flowers, Eremurus aitchisonii (syn: Eremurus elwesii), an Afghan species with light pink flowers, Eremurus olgae, with white flowers tinged with pink and fragrant, and Eremurus spectabilis, a foxtail lily with yellow flowers found from Turkey to Pakistan. In addition to the botanical species, many horticultural cultivars have been developed.

Eremurus or Foxtail lilies or Desert candles grow in the cold high plains of Asia as far as Crimea. Foxtail lilies are sometimes also called Cleopatra’s needle or Cleopatra’s distaff. Eremurus grow in rocky prairies and steppes of Asia, in full sun, but sheltered from cold winds.

Eremurus robustus on the left and in the middle, and Eremurus stenophyllus on the right

In their natural range, Eremurus, plants of cold to temperate climates, are protected from frost by a layer of snow. In our gardens, these perennials prove hardy enough to remain in the ground during winter. However, care must be taken to provide them with well-drained soil.

These are perennials with fleshy roots, commonly sold among bulbs. These long fleshy roots are arranged around a central bud, giving the stump a strange octopus-like appearance. This central bud acts as a storage organ. This is why Eremurus are classified among bulbous plants in commerce.

The plant forms a rosette of strap-shaped leaves. Each leaf can measure up to 1 metre long. The green foliage is luxuriant but low, which further highlights the tall flower stem. Moreover, the leaves are deciduous and already begin to dry out at the start of flowering. The plant will then go dormant after flowering, from August onwards.

The Eremurus begins its leaf growth, and the “bulb” resembling a starfish

The summer flowering (from May to July depending on the species) is spectacular, with the flower spike reaching up to 3 m in height for Eremurus robustus in its natural habitat. The flower spikes of Eremurus will often be shorter in our gardens, still reaching nearly 2 m for the tallest. These flower spikes bear hundreds of white, pink, yellow or orange flowers that bloom from the bottom upwards, allowing for flowering spread over several weeks. Each of these small flowers is arranged in a star shape with 5 petals and prominent stamens.

Note that Eremurus can sometimes take time to flower. So don’t be surprised if you don’t get flower spikes in the first year.

The flower spikes are used in bouquet making and floral art in general.

Our favourite varieties

Botanical species

Horticultural varieties

Eremurus robustus - Foxtail Lily

This is the tallest of the Eremurus. This gigantic botanical species native to Central Asia raises tall spikes of delicately pink flowers over 2.50 m from the ground, lasting for 4 weeks in spring.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Eremurus himalaïcus - Foxtail Lily

Eremurus himalaicus or Himalayan Eremurus is an early-flowering botanical species. From May onwards, clusters 70 to 100 cm long composed of hundreds of small white star-shaped flowers are revealed.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 2 m

See the product sheet

Eremurus bungei - Foxtail Lily

Eremurus bungei or Eremurus stenophyllus is a relatively small botanical Foxtail Lily. The flower spikes rarely exceed one metre in height. The flowering is bright yellow.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 90 cm

See the product sheet

 

Eremurus Brun - Foxtail Lily

Eremurus 'Brun' is a Foxtail Lily that blooms from June to July with beautiful flower spikes composed of hundreds of small golden-yellow flowers.

• Flowering time July, August
• Height at maturity 2 m

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Eremurus isabellinus Cleopatra - Foxtail Lily

Eremurus 'Cleopatra' produces in June spikes 20 to 50 cm long composed of hundreds of small star-shaped orange-yellow flowers, 1 to 2 cm in diameter.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 1,30 m

See the product sheet

Eremurus stenophyllus Moneymaker - Foxtail Lily

Eremurus 'Moneymaker' offers gigantic spikes of salmon-yellow star-shaped flowers in late spring.

• Flowering time July, August
• Height at maturity 1,50 m

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Eremurus isabellinus Pinokkio - Foxtail Lily

Eremurus x isabellinus 'Pinokkio' sends up in summer long spikes resembling glowing torches, covered with hundreds of small pink-orange buds that open into intense orange star-shaped flowers.

• Flowering time July, August
• Height at maturity 90 cm

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Eremurus Romance - Foxtail Lily

Eremurus 'Romance' reveals magnificent spikes of star-shaped flowers, pale salmon pink, studded with coral stamens.

• Flowering time July, August
• Height at maturity 1,20 m

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Eremurus x isabellinus Shelford' s Hybrids Tap Dance

Eremurus 'Tap Dance' raises in summer to 1.50 m from the ground superb spikes adorned with a multitude of small sunshine-yellow flowers tipped with orange.

• Flowering time July, August
• Height at maturity 1,50 m

See the product sheet

Eremurus White Beauty Favourite - Foxtail Lily

Eremurus 'White Beauty Favourite' offers in late spring or early summer immense spikes of surprising lightness despite their imposing size, covered with hundreds of small ivory-white star-shaped flowers, with yellow centres and stamens.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 1,30 m

See the product sheet

Planting Eremurus

Where to plant?

Eremurus plants thrive in very sunny positions, sheltered from strong winds which could break their flower spikes. A south-facing spot will be perfect.

Foxtail lilies absolutely require very well-drained soil, otherwise the “bulb” may rot in winter. Unless your soil is naturally free-draining (sandy substrate and sloping ground), you will need to improve drainage.

Indeed, Eremurus dislike heavy, clay soils as these retain moisture in winter, which their bulbs cannot tolerate.

Eremurus will grow in poor soils but prefer rich ground. Add some well-rotted compost when planting. They also tolerate chalky soils reasonably well.

Eremurus himalaicus

When to plant?

Plant your Eremurus in autumn, ideally around October. However, they can still be planted in early winter, until December or even January.

How to plant?

In open ground:

Remember that Eremurus bulbs consist of a central bud from which thick roots emerge, resembling “tentacles”. If some of your Eremurus’ “tentacles” are broken or damaged: don’t worry! These are just remnants of the previous year’s roots, whose sole function is to stabilise the new flower spike during early growth.

• Dig a wide hole, 15 cm deep;
• Loosen the soil and add a layer of gravel, 5-10 cm thick, to prevent waterlogging;
• Place the bulb directly on this drainage layer, with the bud facing upwards;
• Cover the bulb with about 8 cm of a mixture of compost, garden soil and coarse sand: Eremurus will perform much better when grown in fairly rich, well-amended soil;
• Firm down then water lightly.

Important! Eremurus hate being moved. Choose their position carefully. Allow 60 cm to 1 m spacing, depending on the height of the varieties selected. Consider planting foxtail lilies in groups of 3 or 5 bulbs to create attractive clumps.

In containers:

• Choose a sufficiently large 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 mixture of sand, compost and potting compost.
• Position the bulb with the roots curving downwards.
• Cover with 8 cm of soil.
• Water lightly.

In containers, the growing medium dries out faster than in open ground. We recommend watering moderately when the surface soil has dried out completely.

Maintenance

Eremurus require almost no maintenance. They can easily overwinter in the ground in well-drained soil.

Watering

They tolerate drought well but dislike excess moisture. However, they do need some watering in spring, especially if grown in pots. Water moderately if spring is very dry.

Care

We recommend cutting back the flowering stem after flowering. This prevents the plant from exhausting itself by producing seeds.

You may need to stake the tallest varieties, particularly if planted in a windy spot.

Eremurus is a hungry plant that thrives in rich soil, so don’t hesitate to work in some compost in spring.

Possible diseases and pests

The steppe lily, when grown in suitable conditions (sun and well-drained soil), is not prone to any diseases.

However, slugs are fond of the young leaves and the roots can fall prey to rodents, while its foliage may be devoured by slugs. At planting time, surround the root with wire mesh to protect it from rodents’ appetites.

→For combating slugs, here are 7 effective and natural solutions.

Multiplying your steppe lilies

By Division of Clumps

Steppe Lilies propagate well by division of clumps every 3 to 5 years. On mature stumps with several visible buds:

• Cut the flower spikes when the foliage begins to wilt;
• Lift the stump using a garden fork and remove it from the soil. Be careful to insert the fork’s tines far enough from the stump to avoid damaging it;
• Trim any broken roots with a knife and separate the Eremurus claws with the same tool. Each “claw” should have one or more buds;
• Replant your Eremurus in loose soil and in full sun.

By Sowing

Sowing seeds in autumn is theoretically possible but unpredictable. Additionally, the bulbs may take several years (sometimes up to 6 years) before they begin to flower. If you wish to give it a try, sow your seeds in autumn under a cold frame in a very well-draining substrate (such as sand). The seedlings will appear in spring, at which point you can transplant them into pots, still in a very well-draining substrate, and keep them throughout the season before planting them in open ground in autumn. During the pot-growing phase, keep the substrate moist but not waterlogged.

How to pair Eremurus?

The vertical dimension provided by Eremurus helps structure a somewhat flat perennial or bush border, adding height and breaking the monotony. The warmth of their flowers also helps brighten up a dull border or creates a pleasing contrast with bluish tones.

In a gravel garden in full sun, Eremurus will thrive. Consider, for example, Eremurus ‘Cleopatra’. You could opt for a composition with striking contrasts of blue, purple, and yellow-orange flowers by pairing it with the globular forms of Allium christophii, the blue umbels of Agapanthus ‘Navy Blue’, and the Nepeta x faasseni ‘Purrsian Blue’. Don’t hesitate to combine yellow or orange foxtail lilies with yellow Russell’s Jerusalem sage or mullein, Verbascum bombyciferum ‘Polarsommer’, and Eryngium bourgatii.

Centred is Eremurus ‘Cleopatra’, surrounded by Allium christophii, Agapanthus ‘Navy Blue’, Eryngium, Nepeta faasseni ‘Purrsian Blue’, and Verbascum

For a more contemporary, graphic style, opt for the towering ivory-white spikes of Eremurus ‘White Beauty Favourite’. To complement it, choose architectural plants in white tones, such as Eryngium yuccifolium, an intriguing eryngo with small round white flowers, Veronicastrum virginicum var. album, Agapanthus ‘White Heaven’, or even Kniphofia ‘Ice Queen’ with its poker-like blooms in varying shades of white.