Foxtail lily

Foxtail lily: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Rosette of narrow leaves about 40 cm wide; the stem grows about 1.2 m tall.

Leaves

Narrow, long and grey-green; they die back in summer, after flowering.

Flower

A dense, candle-like raceme of golden-yellow stars that open from the bottom up, in June–July. They turn orange-brown with age.

Roots

A starfish-like crown with fleshy, brittle roots that radiate like tentacles.

Seed

Round green seed capsules that turn brown later; decorative on the stem.

Flowering: June–July · Plants: September–October

Why grow it?

• Dense candles of golden-yellow flowers in June–July that turn orange with age.
• An imposing vertical shape, ideal for adding height to a sunny border.
• Bees visit the flowers for nectar and pollen.
• Hardy to about −25 °C without protection.
• A fine cut flower: the candles last well in the vase.

Foxtail lily: where does it grow best?

• Full sun in a warm, open spot.
• Very free-draining soil: sandy or loamy, neutral to chalky. Improve heavy soil with coarse sand or grit.
• Normal to dry soil; in winter and during summer dormancy the soil must never be wet.
• Shelter from strong wind. Allow 40–50 cm and plant among perennials that hide the dying foliage.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Neutral or chalky

Moisture

Dry or normal

Size

1.2 m tall, 0.4 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -25 °C)

Goes well with

• Sage: Violet and blue next to the golden yellow.
• Hardy geranium: Fills the gap when the Eremurus foliage disappears.
• Yarrow: Flat flower heads that contrast with the candles, on the same dry soil.
• Ornamental grasses: Give structure in summer and hide the leaf remains.
• Catmint: A blue cloud at the base.

Foxtail lily: when and how to plant it?

Plant in September–October.

1. Plant the crowns in September–October. They dry out quickly, so plant them as soon as possible after buying.
2. Dig a hole about 30 cm wide and 25 cm deep and put a layer of grit or coarse sand in the bottom.
3. Lay the brittle, starfish-like roots flat on that layer, with the crown in the middle.
4. Cover with 10–15 cm of soil; space plants 40–50 cm apart.
5. Water lightly after planting; after that, the autumn weather is enough.
6. Mark the spot with a small stake, as the plant is invisible in winter and summer.

Care

Water

In a dry spring, water while the leaves are growing. Stop watering after flowering.

Feeding

A little compost or organic fertiliser in spring; not too much nitrogen.

Spring frost

The shoots come up early. Cover them with brushwood or fleece in late night frost.

Support

In a windy spot a stake is handy for the tall stem.

Spent flowers

Cut the stem after flowering or leave the seed capsules as decoration.

Tip: Lay the brittle, starfish-like roots flat on a layer of grit, 10–15 cm deep. Give it full sun and soil that does not stay wet in winter.

Foxtail lily: when to prune it?

When: It is not pruned; you only clear the flower stem and the dead foliage.

How:

• Cut the faded stem in August, or leave it for the seed capsules.
• Let the leaves turn yellow and die back naturally; only remove them when they are completely dry.
• For cut flowers, take the stem when the lowest flowers are open and cut it as short as possible.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

In September, carefully lift the crown and divide it into pieces with roots. Only do this when the plant has become too big, as the roots break easily.

Seed

Sow in autumn or early spring, frost-free. Seedlings take several years to flower.

Foxtail lily: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −25 °C.

• Hardy to about −25 °C: no protection from frost is needed.
• The danger is wet soil in winter, so choose a raised, free-draining spot and lay the roots on grit.
• In a pot: a deep pot with plenty of coarse sand; stand it against a wall in winter where it will not get too wet.

Diseases and pests

• Rotting crown: Caused by wet winters and heavy soil. Lay the roots on grit and provide free-draining soil.
• Slugs: They eat the new shoots in early spring. Collect them in the evening and protect the shoots.
• Frosted shoots: Late night frost damages young shoots. Cover them with brushwood or fleece.
• No flowers: Newly planted crowns often only flower after a year or two. Do not disturb the roots unnecessarily.

Through the year

• March: Shoots appear. Keep slugs off. Have fleece ready for frost.
• April: Water in dry weather. A little compost.
• May: Let the leaves grow. Stake if needed.
• June: Flowering starts. Cut flowers for a bouquet.
• July: Full flower. The flowers turn orange. Let the leaves die back after flowering.
• August: Summer dormancy. Keep dry. Cut off the stem.
• September: Plant or divide on grit, 10–15 cm deep.
• October: Plant. Mark the spot.
• November: Rest. Keep dry.
• December: Rest.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The name Eremurus comes from Greek: eremos means desert and oura means tail, after the long flower spike.
• The flowers open from the bottom up, so the candle flowers for weeks.
• Eremurus stenophyllus used to be called Eremurus bungei and belongs to the aloe family (Asphodelaceae), like red hot poker (Kniphofia).