Eremurus bungei - Foxtail Lily

<p style="text-align: justify">Whether you love them or not, it's undeniable that Foxtail Lilies are... effective perennials. Simply put, when in full flowering, they dominate any flowerbed with <strong>their gigantic flower spikes, sometimes reaching up to two metres tall, covered in small star-shaped white, pink, yellow, or orange flowers.</strong> The colour of the flowers and the height of the spike depend on the botanical species or horticultural cultivar.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Foxtail Lilies live up to their name, as they are flowering plants from the Liliaceae family, native to the meadows and steppes of Asia. Their ideal conditions include: <strong>plenty of sun, distinct seasons with cold winters, relatively low rainfall, and rich, well-drained soil.</strong> With this knowledge, you have all the keys to successfully grow Eremurus.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Be warned, though—while Eremurus are easy to care for in the garden, <strong>they dislike two things: being moved</strong>, so choose their location carefully, <strong>and heavy soils that retain too much water in winter.</strong> Improve drainage by adding a generous amount of gravel at planting time.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">I emphasised "perennial" at the start of this introduction because, although sold among bulbs, Cleopatra's Needles (don’t laugh—it’s one of the many names for this perennial) are not bulbs. They are indeed peculiar plants when purchased: <strong>a large central bud surrounded by thick, sprawling roots</strong>, giving the whole thing the appearance of a dried octopus or some extraterrestrial oddity. Not the most inviting sight, but look past that first impression—plant them, and you won’t regret it!</p> [caption id="attachment_186157" align="aligncenter" width="1172"]<img class="wp-image-186157 size-full" src="https://www.promessedefleurs.com/blogwp/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Eremurus-stenophyllus-et-Salvia-nemorosa.jpg" alt="Eremurus, Foxtail Lilies, Cleopatra's Needles" width="1172" height="780" /> Eremurus stenophyllus and Salvia nemorosa[/caption]