Eremurus

( ehr - em - MEW - rus )

At-A-Glance Information

Eremurus, also called Foxtail Lily or Desert Candle, is a perennial flowering plant that grows from tuberous roots. They need full sun and regular water during their growth and bloom periods for best performance. They are native to Western and Central Asia and produce 3-9 foot tall spikes of blooms in late spring and early summer. These striking plants are wonderful for the backs of large borders, against walls or fences, and are fantastic in arrangements. Flowers come in pink, white, and yellow, and open from the base of the inflorescence upwards.

Eremurus Species and Varietals

The genus Eremurus is a member of the plant family Asphodelaceae and includes over 50 species. Foxtail Lilies grow best in USDA hardiness zones 5-8 or Sunset growing zones 2-10, 14-16 and 18-21. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Eremurus altaicus (Asphodelus altaicus) (Foxtail Lily, Desert Candle)
This species of Eremurus is native to an area that spans from Siberia to Mongolia, and was first described in 1779 by Peter Simon von Pallas, then under the name Asphodelus altaicus. Individual plants in this species reach up to 3 to 5 feet tall when mature and in bloom, and produce flowers from a basal rosette of foliage.

Eremurus himalaicus (Himalayan Foxtail Lily, White-Flowered Foxtail Lily)
Growing 4-8 feet tall, this species has white flowers and leaves that get to 1.5 feet long. This species is native to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the western Himalayas, and is useful as a tall accent plant.

Eremurus x isabellinus (Foxtail Lily, Desert Candle)
This is a well-known hybrid species of Foxtail Lily, and has a variety of cultivars to choose from with various flower colors. These plants typically reach up to 3-6 feet tall on average. This hybrid is a cross between species Eremurus stenophyllus and Eremurus olgae. Cultivars are listed and described below:

'Brutus'
Pure white flower spikes.

'Cleopatra'
Flowers are burnt orange in this variety.

'Emmy Ro'
With deep yellow-golden blooms.

'Image'
Bright yellow flowers on tall spikes.

'Lemon Meringue'
With soft yellow flowers.

'Line Dance'
With white flowers that rise above foliage.

'Moneymaker'
Deep lemon-yellow flowers.

'Line Dance'
With pale cream to very light yellow blossoms.

'Oase'
With light tangerine-peach blooms.

'Obelisk'
A cultivar with white flowers.

'Pinokkio'
With orange, flower-packed spikes.

'Rexona'
Dark orange to salmon-pink flowers.

'Romance'
With peach-pink flowers on tall spikes.

'Rosalind'
With dainty pink blooms.

'Rumba'
With burnt orange to salmon-colored blossoms.

'Tap Dance'
With bright yellow flowers.

Eremurus robustus (Foxtail Lily, Giant Desert Candle)
Reaching 6-9 feet tall, this species blooms in light pink with brown markings. Green leaves can reach 2 feet in length. These plants are often used as ornamentals in gardens. The specific epithet robustus refers to the strength of the flowering stem despite is height (it is the largest in the genus). Giant Desert Candle is native to central Asia.

Eremurus stenophyllus (Eremurus bungei) (Narrow-Leaved Foxtail Lily, Desert Candle, Foxtail Lily)
This species has the potential to reach up to 3-5 feet tall with bright yellow to yellow flowers that when mature, turn an orange-brownish color. Leaves grow to reach 1 foot in length and are green.

Caring for Eremurus

Foxtail Lilies' roots need to be handled with care; they tend to rot away when bruised or broken. Root crowns should be spaced 2-4 feet apart, buried about 4-6 inches deep in cooler climates (in warmer climates, situate them just under the soil surface). Choose a space in the garden that receives full sun. These flowers are fantastic for the backs of borders, where their flower spikes will provide height and color. They prefer to have their roots in rich, well-draining soil, with a pH of between 6.0 and 8.0. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Mulch around the base of new plantings with a thick layer of organic mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain soil temperature, and to increase soil moisture retention.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. When leaves die and the plant enters dormancy, mark the spot to ensure the roots are not disturbed or damaged. These plants really do not like to have their roots compacted or moved in any way. Do not let soil dry out during dormancy, and provide additional mulch in cold-winter areas to ensure the roots will survive the cooler temperatures over winter. Eremurus, or Foxtail Lilly, is a long-lived perennial, lasting for 3 to 10 years in the landscape before needing to be replaced. They will naturalize in the landscape in favorable conditions.

Harvesting Eremurus
Foxtail Lilies are commonly grown as members of cut flower gardens, and make a statement when added to fresh floral arrangements. To cut for vases, harvest when the lowest flowers on a spike are just starting to open. Blossoms will continue to open after the stalk has been severed from the rest of the plant as long as it is getting water. The best time to harvest is in the morning after dew has dried but before the heat of the day sets in. Cut flower stems at their base using sharp, clean shears or snips, remove the lower leaves from the stem, and drop them in a bucket of cool water. Foxtail Lily stems last between 7 and 14 days in a vase.

Propagation

Eremurus, or Foxtail Lily, is best propagated via seed or division. To ensure that you are getting a plant that is a clone of the mother plant being harvested, choose the division method. Although harvesting and sowing seeds is a great way to propagate these beautiful flowers, it can be a

Propagating Eremurus by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Eremurus by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; Eremurus plants will produce runner roots that allow them to form colonies. When this occurs, the new plant can be severed from the parent plant with minimal stress caused. Because Eremurus flowers really do not like to have their roots disturbed, this is a good alternative to classic division of plant roots where the entire plant is dug up, sectioned, and replanted. To complete this process, you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil, compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in spring. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Locate a runner and a new plant that has formed at the end. This is the plant that will be dug up and replanted elsewhere. Work the young plant out of the soil very carefully, without causing any damage to the plant roots. Sever its connection to the parent plant with a sharp, clean blade.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your division(s) and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.