Picture the scene. Dawn breaks over the desolately beautiful Tien Shan and Pamir Mountains of Central Asia. Miles of dusty, rubble-strewn desert, seemingly empty of any living thing. And then the half-light illuminates the tall inflorescences of hundreds upon hundreds of plants, punctuating the arid land, reaching skyward on stout stems nearly 2m tall, smothered in lightly fragrant flowers: Eremurus.
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My introduction to Eremurus came closer to home. In my first summer as curator of RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Essex, back in June 2000, the sight of more than 600 Eremurus robustus in a west-facing border was quite a treat. What was even more remarkable is that those 600-plus plants were all self-seeded from just a dozen original crowns, planted in the late 1960s by the founding owners of the garden, Helen and Dick Robinson.
While Essex isn’t exactly Uzbekistan, it is one of the driest parts of the UK – and that west-facing border gets baked by the sun. The soil there, in contrast to the heavy clay across the rest of the site, has some gravel in it and drains well. And the only real competition the Eremurus had there were some old shrub roses, meaning there was plenty of space around the crowns, good air circulation and limited shade.
FACT FILE
What Bulbous perennials. Commonly known as desert candles or foxtail lilies. A genus made up of 59 species.
Season Early to midsummer.
Size Up to 2.5m high (flower spike), 50cm-1m across.
Conditions Well-drained soils, pH neutral, acid or alkaline, full sun and a sheltered spot.
Origins Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, northwest China.
Hardiness Given the right conditions, Eremurus are hardy throughout the UK and suitable for gardens in USDA zones 5a to 8b.
What are Eremurus?
There are 59 accepted species of Eremurus, although less than half are widely commercially available, and of those, some are primarily available as cut flowers rather than garden plants. Their flower colours range from white through pale pink to yellow and orange. The role of these spectacular plants is of garden shooting stars rather than stolid ensemble players, as even the longest-lasting cultivars are only in bloom for a matter of three or four weeks.
Growing away rapidly in spring, they form knee-high rosettes of fleshy, grassy leaves before erupting into flower in early to midsummer. The flower spikes rise up to 1-2.5m depending on species and cultivar, each spike studded with tiny, star-shaped flowers arranged concentrically around the stem. The number
of these flowers is quite mind-boggling – a single Eremurus robustus stem might have as many as 800.
The flowers fade from the bottom of the flower spike to the top. These tiny flowers are lightly fragrant and their pollen and nectar are a magnet for bees. A characteristic of the flower spikes is their propensity to wander off from a strictly vertical path. The resulting kinks are all part of their charm and the reason for one of their common names: foxtail lily.
Where to plant Eremurus
In a gravel garden they can look spectacular as a foreground plant, accompanied by a nice chunky boulder and some thoughtfully positioned gravel. In this gravel garden scenario, they look well with self-seeding colonisers, such as Eschscholzia californica and Nigella damascena, which do a good job of filling in around the base of the plant without shading the crown. Silver-leaved lavenders, Santolina and Helichrysum are perfect companions, as is the statuesque Salvia candelabrum that produces lavender-blue flowers on very long, wand-like stems. If you don’t have a gravel garden, the foot of a sunny wall will do nicely.
In a more conventional border, the post-flowering absence of Eremurus means it is advisable to take a more conservative approach and plant in the middle to back of the bed. A degree of care is required to reduce the amount of shading to the crown – nothing more complicated than keeping a watchful eye and a sharp pair of secateurs to trim back the foliage of adjoining plants if required.
As a component plant in a sunny border I would still combine Eremurus with plants that have that hot, sunny Mediterranean feel to them. The tall, airy inflorescences of Stipa gigantea are a perfect companion, to which I would add Rosa glauca with its pewter-grey foliage and attractive autumn hips, and the statuesque cardoon, Cynara cardunculus.
How to grow Eremurus
How to plant Eremurus
• There’s no need to dig a deep hole when planting Eremurus. A shallow, but wide excavation, at least the size of a dinner plate is ideal. Mix a few handfuls of horticultural grit into the excavated soil, and some soil improver – something light such as spent mushroom compost. Despite their thrifty origins, they will benefit from the additional nutrients and soil conditioning.
• When planted the crown should be only just below the soil. Plant so the tip of the crown is visible to make absolutely sure you haven’t accidentally buried it. As for those finger-like roots, they should be spread out over the surface of the excavation and the improved soil firmed back over them so they are just a few centimetres below the surface.
• After planting, mulch around the crown with more horticultural grit, but don’t cover the crown itself. This mulch will have a secondary benefit of making it obvious where the plants are once they have died back.
Where to plant Eremurus
• To get the best out of Eremurus it is essential to plant in a sheltered spot in full sun and well-drained soil. If you can’t provide these key ingredients, try something else. As they start into growth early, and their foliage is soft, they can get hit hard by a late frost, so avoid planting in a frost pocket.
• Eremurus are best bought and planted as dormant crowns in late spring – they are also offered in autumn by some suppliers. Their root systems and crown look like a child’s attempt at drawing a starfish; thick, fleshy fingers of root arrayed from the central bud. Planting the roots and crown at the correct depth is critical to successful establishment.
Potting on Eremurus
• If you can’t wait to plant bareroot dormant crowns, Eremurus can be bought as potted crowns. But a word of warning, potting on inevitably means the roots end up pointing downwards in the pot, rather than in their optimal horizontal position. This prevents the roots from being well baked in summer, compromises drainage and can result in rotting. On really well-drained soil the comparatively rich compost that a potted plant usually comes in can create a sump effect, which again causes rot. If you do buy as potted plants, gently tease the compost away from the roots so they can be planted correctly.
How to propagate Eremurus
• Propagation is by seed in autumn, with the time to flower from sowing around four years. Mature clumps can be carefully divided after flowering and the divisions planted immediately in prepared ground. Watch out for slugs and snails that can damage the emerging foliage and crowns.
The best Eremurus to grow
Eremurus himalaicus
I planted this in the Dry Garden at RHS Hyde Hall, where it still thrives. A truly statuesque beauty with white flowers on tall spikes. Height and spread: 2.5m x 45cm. RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b†.
Eremurus x isabellinus ‘Pinokkio’
Its rusty orange buds open to peachy orange/yellow flowers, bringing a real colour pop to the garden, especially against a red-brick wall. 1.4m x 40cm. RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b.
Eremurus ‘Romance’
An elegant cultivar with narrow flowerheads that have delicate peachy-pink flowers with conspicuous, long, orange stamens and bright-orange pollen.1.2-1.5m x 40cm. RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b.
Eremurus ‘Joanna’
An exceptionally tall and vigorous hybrid with densely packed, pure-white flower spikes. Its form and size
are similar to the mighty E. robustus. 2.5m x 45cm. AGM*. RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b.
Eremurus ‘Brutus’
I have yet to see ‘Brutus’ grown in a garden, but as a cut flower it excels, the flower spikes holding well in bud prior to opening, which is clearly an asset in a vase. 1.3m x 40cm. RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b.
Eremurus ‘White Sensation’
A lovely hybrid, with tall spikes that are densely packed with masses of small, beautiful, pure-white flowers with long stamens. 1.2m x 40cm.RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b.
Eremurus stenophyllus
The narrow-leaved foxtail lily is a compact choice with narrow leaves and bright-yellow flowers that darken as they age. 1m x 60cm. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b.
Eremurus robustus
Pale-pink flowers on towering spikes. This was where my love affair with Eremurus began. As its name implies, it is robust in terms of frost tolerance. 2.5m x 60cm. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b.
Eremurus x isabellinus Ruiter hybrids
The graceful spikes are smothered with flowers ranging from rusty orange through yellow to pink and white. Ideal as a cut flower where variability is an asset. 1.2m x 40cm.
Eremurus ‘White Beauty Favourite’
Flower spikes hold white flowers with yellow centres and stamens, They appear creamy yellow in bud.
1.2m x 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b.
Eremurus ‘Pink Star’
Tight flower spikes bear pink flowers that hold well in bud. It’s a more compact cultivar than many others and one that is often grown as a cut flower. 1.2m x 40cm. RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b.
Eremurus ‘Emmy Ro’
Flower spikes smothered in pale-orange buds open to vibrant yellow flowers with yellow centres and stamens. Excellent as a garden plant or for cutting. 1.5m x 40cm. RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b.
*Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. †Hardiness ratings given where available.
Where to buy and see Eremurus
• Beth Chatto Plants & Gardens Elmstead Market, Colchester, Essex CO7 7DB. Tel 01206 822007, bethchatto.co.uk
• Burncoose Nurseries Gwennap, Redruth, Cornwall TR16 6BJ. Tel 01209 860316, burncoose.co.uk
• RHS Garden Hyde Hall Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET. Tel 01245 400256, rhs.org.uk