Foxtail Lily

Plant eremurus roots in autumn, handling the brittle, octopus-like tuberous roots with extreme care to avoid snapping them. Dig a wide, shallow hole and create a mound of coarse grit or gravel in the center. Spread the roots evenly over the mound with the central crown sitting just at or slightly below soil level. Backfill with a mixture of garden soil and sharp grit to ensure perfect drainage around the crown.

Foxtail lilies demand full sun and excellent drainage above all else. They originate from the dry steppes of Central Asia and require a dry summer dormancy period to thrive. Raised beds, gravel gardens, and south-facing slopes are ideal locations. Heavy clay soil must be extensively amended with gravel and sand or the roots will rot.

Protect emerging growth from late frosts in spring by covering shoots with a thick layer of straw or dry fern fronds, as the young growth is frost-tender even though the roots are hardy. Remove protection once the risk of hard frost has passed. Stake tall varieties in exposed locations to prevent the magnificent flower spires from toppling in wind. Avoid disturbing established plants, as the roots resent being moved.

Eremurus, commonly known as foxtail lily or desert candle, is a genus of roughly 50 species in the family Asphodelaceae, native to the dry, open steppe grasslands and rocky slopes of Central Asia. The genus ranges from Turkey and Iran through Afghanistan, Pakistan, and into the western Himalayas, with the greatest species diversity found in the mountains and high plateaus of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. These plants evolved to thrive in continental climates with cold, dry winters and hot, arid summers, developing thick fleshy root crowns that store water and nutrients during long periods of dormancy. Archaeological and ethnobotanical evidence shows that local peoples have used eremurus for centuries. The starchy roots of several species, particularly Eremurus aucherianus and Eremurus spectabilis, were traditionally boiled and processed to extract a strong natural adhesive used in bookbinding, shoemaking, and textile work across the Silk Road trading regions. Young leaves and shoots of certain species were also gathered as an early spring vegetable, valued as one of the first green foods available after harsh Central Asian winters. Eremurus was introduced to European horticulture in the mid-nineteenth century, when plant collectors sent specimens back from expeditions to Persia and the Russian Empire. The genus quickly gained popularity in English and Dutch gardens for its extraordinary vertical flower spikes, which could tower above conventional border perennials. Prominent hybridisers, notably Sir Michael Foster in England and the Shelford nursery, developed the Shelford Hybrids and later the Ruiter Hybrids in the Netherlands during the early twentieth century, producing the wide palette of colours available to gardeners today including white, cream, yellow, apricot, pink, and deep orange cultivars.

Eremurus demands sharply drained, sandy or gravelly soil with a pH of 6.5 to 8.0. Heavy clay is its worst enemy and must be thoroughly amended with gravel, sharp sand, and compost. Raised beds filled with a free-draining mix are often the best solution. Apply a light dressing of bone meal at planting time and a balanced granular feed in early spring as growth begins. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers which promote lush foliage but weak stems.

Cut eremurus spikes for dramatic arrangements when the lowest quarter of flowers have opened and upper buds are still tightly closed. Use sharp secateurs to cut stems at their base. The towering spikes make extraordinary focal points in large-scale arrangements and can reach four to six feet in the right conditions. Place in deep, heavy vases to support the tall stems. Flowers last seven to ten days in water if the water is changed every two days.

Eremurus roots are best left undisturbed in the ground, where they resent being moved once established. If you must divide or relocate, do so in early autumn when the plant is fully dormant. Handle the brittle roots with extreme care and replant immediately on a grit mound. Dried flower spikes can be preserved for everlasting arrangements by cutting when half open and hanging upside down in a dark, dry, well-ventilated space.