Hyblaean's Journal: Foxtail Lily Cleopatra Eremurus x isabellinus Have 3 large and 10 small of these- going to put them in the front- they and the daylilies can fight
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Cleopatra is orange, grows to 4 feet tall and blooms in May-June when fall planted in Western Oregon.
Eremurus are striking lily relatives with blooming spikes 3-4 feet tall! This one blooms in late spring/early summer from a basal rosette of gray-green strap shaped leaves about 1 foot long. The blooms are a pastel orange with pink tones. These make excellent cut-flowers, rock garden plants and accent plants.
Foxtail Lily or Desert Candle is one of those outstanding plants that should be grown more than it is. Though a little picky about location-(you MUST provide excellent drainage and full sun), it is worth finding the right spot for it. They will grow on clay soils with good drainage, as well as sandy and gravelly soils.
A member of the Lily family, it doesn't resemble a lily at all, hundreds of bell-like flowers are massed along 4-5 foot spires that bloom in late spring/summer. The dark green rosettes of leaves will fade away during summer, so it is wise to plant something else along the base, this will help mark where it is, so you won't disturb the roots later in the season. Most Eremurus is imported from out of the country and sold in the spring, the roots are cut back and the crowns are cooked to meet import requirements. They are not happy with that treatment and are of poor quality, and often DOA. Ours are hand planted, field grown, hand dug, roots will not be pruned off, although they are brittle and break easily.
These need lots of room, good drainage, and are very drought tolerant. They will take some watering, dry off in mid-summer, continued water will cause the crowns to rot. Plant 2-3 inches deep, do not get mulch directly on the crown or it will rot. Crowns have wide spreading, shallow roots, plant where soil will not be disturbed for 2-3 feet around them.
The flower spike is produced from a fleshy rooted crown with a central growing point. The tuberous roots fan out in all directions from the central point.
