A real special plant with mixed up names. Many people call this plant Eremurus bungei, but the correct name is E. stenophyllus.
I first purchased this plant as a tuber. Knowing that the tuber rots easily, I planted it on a bed of sand in fall and never saw it again. I then decided to try growing it from seed which worked much better. The clump in the picture is about 4 years old, and it’s getting bigger every year. A few self-seeded plants can be seen at its base.
Also known as Foxtail Lily and Desert Candle, it blooms for several weeks as successive buds open from the bottom to the top. At a height of 120 cm, it makes quite a statement in the garden.
It is native to Central Asia where it grows in dry mountainous areas. It likes to have good drainage and lots of sun. The tuber look like a star fish and is quite fragile. After flowering the plant looks a bit ragged and it is therefore best to place this plant behind other plants that will cover the old foliage in late summer. Don’t divide or move the plant unless it is absolutely necessary. When planting a tuber, set the crown of the tuber 10 cm below the soil level.
The pictured plants are a bright yellow fading to a less bright yellow. Some references suggest that they fade to an orange color and it is possible that this only happens in some hybrids. I believe the pure species stays yellow.
Eremurus stenophyllus
(er-EE-mur-us sten-oh-FIL-us)
Life Cycle: perennial
Height: 120 cm (4ft)
Bloom Time: mid-summer
Natural Range: Central Asia, Iran, Persia
Habitat: dry rocky mountains
Synonyms: Ammolirion stenophyllum, Eremurus bungei, E. stenophyllus var. bungei, E. stenophyllus subsp. stenophyllus, Henningia stenophylla
Cultivation of Eremurus stenophyllus:
Light: full sun
Soil: well drained
Water: regular moisture in spring, dry after flowering, especially in winter
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5– 9
Propagation: seed, division
