Description

A graceful early summer flowering bulb type perennial which forms a clump with a rosette of strapped shaped leaves and tall, splendorous spikes of hundreds of small star shaped flowers in pale shades of yellow, pink and orange. The foliage is low and luxuriant so that the flower stems rise almost naked, making them all the more imposing. The flowers are long lasting in floral arrangements. Most varieties rise to between 1 and 2 metres in height and add background lift to mixed garden borders or as an eye catching focal point. Ideally suited to temperate and cool climatic areas where winters are cold and subjected to frosts; spring is moist and warm and summer is mainly dry.

Cultivation

Eremurus prefers is to be grown in an open, sunny position in extremely well drained soil of average ph. Add some sand to the soil if needed to achieve this requirement. Mix a little ‘blood and bone’ into the soil at planting and place them about 1 metre apart with the buds 5 to 7 cm below the soil surface. Although it is a drought and frost resistant plant, the soil should be covered with a layer of mulch in winter to prevent the root zone from freezing. This mulch should then be cleared away in spring to prevent the flower stems and emerging leaves from rotting. Provide either protection from strong winds or supporting stakes to the flower stems. It will respond well to small amounts of water during the growing season. No known pests or diseases but protect from snails and slugs.