Foxtail lilies: profile, propagation & varieties

Whether you plant foxtail lily in a tub or prefer to admire it in the border, this candle-like perennial stands out everywhere with its beautiful flower clusters.

Their imposing size and the candle-like flower clusters make foxtail lily (Eremurus) an eye-catcher in any garden or balcony. This impressive genus includes many species and varieties, of which we present the most beautiful here. Here, you will also learn what to consider when planting, caring for and propagating foxtail lily and we also get to the bottom of whether foxtail lily is hardy.

Foxtail lily: origin and characteristics

The Eremurus genus belongs to the asphodel family (Asphodeloideae) and is also known by the name of desert candles. It originates from the cold plateaus of Central and Western Asia but can now be found in areas stretching from China to Turkey.

As an adaptation to their cold place of origin, the perennial foxtail lily forms a short, sturdy shoot axis system (rhizome) that links the foxtail lilies together under the ground. The stem leaves are arranged in a basal rosette. Each plant specimen has an up to 2 m high, unbranched flower stalk that only has tiny serrated, fringed or fimbriated leaves in the upper part on which the flowerheads are also located. Depending on the species and variety, the petals are bell-shaped, tubular or cup-shaped and are white, yellow, orange or pink in colour.

When does foxtail lily flower? The flowering period of foxtail lilies varies greatly between the species and varieties but is always between May and August. The beautiful flowers are enjoyed by many bees, bumblebees and other insects besides us.

The most beautiful varieties at a glance

As the different species and varieties have a similar area of origin, they hardly differ in their site requirements. All are assigned to winter hardiness zone Z5, which means that they are hardy to about -29 °C. Apart from this, there are some hybrids that are used in ornamental gardens.

• Giant desert candle (Eremurus robustus): As its name implies, this is the largest species of foxtail lily. and reaches a stately height of 100 – 300 cm. The flowerhead, which makes up 35 – 110 cm of the total size, bears lovely, light pink coloured flowers that bloom from June to July.

• Himalayan foxtail lily (Eremurus himalaicus): This variety is somewhat smaller with a growth height of 100 – 250 cm but makes a beautiful addition to the border thanks to its brilliant white flowers. The flowering period of this foxtail lily is between May and June.

• Narrow-leaved foxtail lily (Eremurus stenophyllus): Its petals, initially bright yellow, have a characteristic dark nerve in the centre and turn orange to brown colour with age. The narrow-leaved foxtail lily is one of the smallest varieties of the genus Eremurus and grows between 40 and 100 cm tall. Like the giant foxtail lily, this variety flowers from June to July.

• Isabelline garden foxtail lily (Eremurus x isabellinus): This hybrid species of the genus Eremurus grows up to 160 cm tall and produces flowers with white, pink, yellow or orange tones, depending on the variety. Its flowering period is between June and August.

• Eremurus x isabellinus ˈPinokkioˈ: The foxtail lily ˈCleopatraˈ has stunning orange flowers from June to July and grows up to 130 cm tall.

• Eremurus x isabellinus ˈCleopatraˈ: The foxtail lily ˈCleopatraˈ also has orange flowers from June to July and grows up to 130 cm tall.

Planting foxtail lily

The optimal location for foxtail lily is a sunny spot, but protected from the wind. It also needs a well-drained soil that is not too loamy. This is important because this beautiful plant does not tolerate waterlogging. To loosen the substrate and add extra nutrients, about a third of well-rotted compost can be mixed into the soil. Otherwise, our Plantura Organic Flower Compost is perfect for planting in beds and pots. This is well-draining due to the coconut and wood fibres it contains and the crushed expanded clay and contains all the important nutrients for long-lasting flowering.

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In this case, it is essential to add a drainage layer to prevent waterlogging. The best time to plant foxtail lily is in late summer or autumn before the first ground frost, as it is a cold seedling and needs light frosts to sprout the following year. In the bed, foxtail lily should be planted as follows:

• Dig a hole 12 – 15 cm deep and 25 – 30 cm wide in a suitable location.
• Create a drainage layer: Spread some gravel, sand, shards of clay or similar in the centre of the hole.
• Then make a small mound and place the plant bulb inside, taking care not to break off any of its long roots.
• Then fill in the hole with the base of the shoot lying above the ground.
• Keep a planting distance of at least 30 cm between the individual foxtail lilies.

If you want to plant foxtail lily in a pot, proceed in the same way – the only important thing is that here too a drainage layer should be laid at the base of the pot. For this purpose, you can use shards of clay, gravel or expanded clay, for example.

The right care

Foxtail lily thrives optimally with moderate watering and needs a little fertiliser in spring. For this purpose, a slow-release fertiliser such as our Plantura All Purpose Plant Food, which can be worked into the soil in spring, is an excellent choice. With its nutrient composition, it contributes to good plant growth and healthy soil life.

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If you fertilise not only in spring, but give liquid fertiliser every few weeks, be careful not to apply fertiliser after flowering. Then the watering should be reduced as well.

If you want to prevent the plant from reproducing by its seeds, you can cut off the flowerheads before the seeds have ripened, i.e. directly after flowering. Otherwise, foxtail lily spreads mainly through its underground rhizomes – if you want to reduce the clump, you can remove part of the root rhizome with a spade after flowering.

Do not be surprised if the foxtail lily does not flower as splendidly as you expected in the first one or two years. The plant needs some time in a new location until it unfolds its full splendour. The same applies if you transplant foxtail lily in between. It is therefore advisable to let the Eremurus grow in peace during the first few years.

Tip: Very tall foxtail lilies such as the Eremurus robustus are best tied up in strong winds, otherwise they can break easily.

Is foxtail lily hardy?

Due to its origin, this plant is perfectly adapted to cold temperatures. This is not least due to its rhizome, which has been trained for overwintering: it can withstand temperatures as low as -29 °C. However, in its native habitat, foxtail lily is additionally protected by a blanket of snow in winter, whereas in the local areas, frost and rain usually alternate. That is why you should always cover foxtail lilies with fir branches, bark mulch or leaves during the cold season.

Propagation

Foxtail lily can reproduce not only with the seeds from its capsule-shaped fruits, but also via runners that spring from its rhizome.

Propagation of foxtail lily by sowing is somewhat complicated. For this purpose, the seed must first be kept moist at a temperature between 25 and 30 °C for 4 to 5 weeks, after which it should then be left to germinate in the dark at around 2 °C for about 80 days. Then the temperature can be slowly increased and the seedlings placed in the light.

The simpler method is to dig up the runners that form from the underground rhizome in early autumn and replant them in the desired spot. When dividing the rhizome, be careful never to cut it into more than 2 or 3 parts.

Is foxtail lily poisonous?

Foxtail lily is not poisonous either for dogs and cats, or for humans. Like all ornamental plants, however, it should still not be consumed.

If you want to know more plants from the asphodel family, read more about the red hot poker (Kniphofia) here.