Eremurus robustus - Foxtail Lily

The Eremurus robustus constitutes the largest botanical species in its genus, with its flowering stem capable of reaching a height of 3m (10ft). This gigantic perennial native to Central Asia produces tall spikes of delicately pink flowers that bloom from bottom to top for 4 weeks in spring, taking over from its cousin from the Himalayas, the Eremurus himalaicus. It is a spectacular and very beautiful plant, to be placed at the back of a border or in front of a dark shrub curtain that will enhance its pastel colours. It was awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society in England.

The Eremurus robustus originates from sandy meadows in Turkestan, specifically from the western Tian and Pamir mountains where it is found between 1600 and 3100m (5249 and 10171ft) altitude, introduced into cultivation in Europe in 1874. It belongs to the asphodelaceae family. The eremurus is a robust plant that can live for around fifteen years if well established, but does not like to be disturbed. This robust species is highly frost resistant (-20°C (-4°F)), but it perishes in wet soil during winter and summer. The plant may take several years before its first flowering.

It is a herbaceous plant with a fleshy root resembling a spider or octopus measuring about 30cm (12in) in diameter. It is more of a tuberous stump composed of roots all around than a bulb, a bit like Dahlias. In spring, a large bud emerges from the ground, quickly forming a large rosette of leaves, reaching at least 70cm (28in) in diameter. These are ribbon-like leaves, 50-60cm (20-24in) long, flexible, with rough edges, sometimes villous, of a fairly light greyish green. They dry out fairly quickly at the beginning of flowering, while the plant begins to enter a resting phase in a preferably dry soil. Flowering takes place from mid-May to mid-June depending on the region. From the stump emerge flowering stems 2.50m (8ft) to 3m (10ft) high, extremely stiff and straight, carrying long, somewhat loose floral spikes, 1.10m (4ft) long. Each spike is composed of a multitude of small cup-shaped flowers, 2 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, a very pale pink, star-shaped, with a yellow centre. The flowers open successively from bottom to top, allowing the plant to have a 4-week flowering period. The flowers, pollinated by insects, produce seeds that can be collected for sowing.

Despite its height, the Eremurus robustus rarely requires staking. Reserve a prime location for it, do not hesitate to prepare a small 'dune' of very sandy soil, for example at the edge of the garden, in front of a hedge of conifers or evergreens with dark foliage, or even in a beautiful pocket of sandy soil arranged in a large rockery. This plant is a real attraction in the garden in May. You can associate it with ornamental garlic, thyme, santolines, small grasses, plants that will not smother it, as it does not appreciate competition at all.