Growing foxtail lilies, also called desert candles, is simple and rewarding. These flowering perennials are nearly a set-it-and forget-it type of plant. All you will need is a garden space, your green thumbs, and a shovel!
While these perennials have dramatic flowers, it is important to remember that they are very easy to care for once you have the basics down. If you have ever planted and cared for spring-blooming bulbs, you will be successful with desert candles. While these plants may grow similarly to bulbs, they bloom for a longer period in the summer.
If you are thinking of adding this perennial to your garden or if you are a veteran grower of this lily, read on! This article contains information that will help you grow the most beautiful foxtail lilies possible!
Overview
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What Is It?
This beautiful flowering tuber is known for its outrageously tall stalks of flowers available in a range of peach, orange, and yellow.
This perennial gets its botanical name from the Greek word eremos which means “desert”, and the word oura, which means “tail”. This is the perfect name for this plant! The tall and sun-loving foxtail lily is a gorgeous and tough plant!
Characteristics
Foxtail lilies have tall stems with hundreds of blooming flowers that can last up to one month.
Foxtail lilies are most notable for their very tall stems, which hold hundreds of tiny flowers. These flowers bloom from the bottom up and last nearly a month. Before these showy flower stalks appear, however, the plant will produce blue-green strapping leaves that resemble those of a daffodil or yucca.
The foxtail lily is a tuberous perennial that will return beautifully year after year. Tubers are simply enlarged roots that store all of the nutrients for your plant, very similar to a bulb.
Plant the tubers amongst other perennials. The main reason is that once the blooming period has ended for these flowers, the stems and leaves will die back, leaving gaps within your garden. To avoid this, plant your lilies amongst catmint, ornamental grasses, sage, or other long-lasting, sun-loving perennials.
There are three main categories of foxtail lilies. E. robustus is the tallest of the bunch, with pink flower stalks that reach up to 10 feet. E. himalaicus is the mid-size foxtail lily. This species generally has large (nearly two-foot long) leaves and white flowers. It will grow to six feet. E. stenophyllus is a dwarf foxtail lily that tops out at three feet. Its flowers are usually yellow.
Native Area
They thrive in the dry, sunny regions of Asia, particularly the Himalayas.
Foxtail lilies are native to areas of Asia, such as the Himalayas, where the soil is dry and there is plenty of sunshine. Another key component to its native region is that while the summers are warm and dry, the winters offer a snap of cold temperatures that can rejuvenate the tubers.
Planting
The best time to plant them is in the fall, as you would plant your spring-blooming bulbs. Find a site in your garden with sandy or loamy soil that receives full sun. The only supplies you will need are a shovel and your plant material.
Transplanting
Plant at least 6 inches deep in a hole slightly wider than the tuber.
Foxtail lily tubers can be purchased through online retailers or at your local garden center. You may even be able to find mature plants in pots from a local nursery.
- Dig a hole about 6 inches deep and slightly wider than your tubers.
- If you are concerned about your soil being too heavy, add a layer of sand, compost, or other organic material to the base of the hole.
- Place your tubers in the hole with the crown at the top of the clump.
- Backfill with your garden soil, ensuring that the crown of the tubers does not get buried.
- Tubers should be planted about two or three feet apart to ensure they have enough room to grow happily.
How to Grow
Foxtail lilies are nearly maintenance-free, and they’re very showy plants! Let’s learn more about what it takes to grow these pretty perennials.
Light
Foxtail lilies thrive in full sun, which is essential for developing robust stems to support the large flowers.
Provide full sun for these bulbs to grow to their maximum potential. The sun is very important for producing strong stems that can support their very large and heavy flowers. Less sunlight may promote bent stems that require staking to prevent breakage.
Water
Provide approximately one inch of water per week.
The water needs of foxtail lilies are very average, with about one inch per week during their active growth periods. This one inch of water can be from rainfall or irrigation. Be sure to provide supplemental water during drought. When the plant enters dormancy in winter, reduce your watering frequency.
Soil
Promote the best growth by planting them in well-draining soil.
To grow healthy and happy plants, plant in well-draining soil. If you have heavy or clay soil, consider growing in raised beds or containers where you can control the soil a bit more. Sandy soils are perfect as long as they are rich and loamy.
Temperature and Humidity
Chilly winter temps promote the development of lively flowers in the upcoming season.
Foxtail lilies are hardy in zones 5-8. They require cold temperatures in the same way that bulbs do. The cooler winters encourage growth and promote stunning flowers for the upcoming spring growing season. In colder zones, mulch well around the base of your plants to protect them in freezing temperatures.
Fertilizing
They benefit from a dose of liquid fertilizer as they are not heavy feeders.
These tuberous perennials are not heavy feeders. Once you notice that they have begun to produce their flower spikes, give them a dose of liquid fertilizer of your choice. This could be a synthetic, brand-name formula or liquid manure.
Maintenance
Foxtail lilies necessitate only minimal maintenance, demanding little attention to thrive in various conditions.
Throughout the season, your desert candles will not require much maintenance from you. Here are a few helpful tips to get you through the growing season without any snags!
- Stake your stems to prevent flopping! Foxtail lilies are not known for flopping, but if they are exposed to winds and low sunlight, there is a chance they may tip over or, even worse… snap! Stake them once the flowers emerge for the best results.
- When your flowers are spent, deadhead them back to the ground. Use clean garden shears for this task to ensure there is no damage done or disease transferred.
Propagation
The most common way to propagate foxtail lily is by division or seed collection. Propagating from seed can take years and is not always successful. Let’s take a look at how to successfully divide them.
Division
Dividing is an easy process that promotes plant well-being through efficient thinning.
Propagating foxtail lilies through division is a simple process that can also help thin out your plants. This can help keep them healthy for years to come. Like many perennials, this process is best done in fall.
You will need garden gloves, a shovel, and a garden knife.
- Dig out a clump of foxtail lily. Dig a few inches away from the tubers, and be very gentle while handing them.
- Dust off any dirt so that you can examine the clump more easily. You are looking for naturally occurring clumps that have a crown.
- Carefully use your hands or a garden knife, if needed, to break apart clumps of tubers. Each clump must have a full crown attached to it.
- Replant the clumps of tubers where you would like the new plants to grow. Leave plenty of room between plants, and keep the crown at soil level.
Popular Varieties
Cleopatra
The ‘Cleopatra’ cultivar has tall stalks adorned with peachy tangerine flowers.
 | botanical name Eremurus x isabellinus ‘Cleopatra’ |
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 | sun requirements Full sun |
 | height 4-5 feet |
 | hardiness zones 5-8 |
‘Cleopatra’ is a well-loved variety. This is likely due to the dreamy shade of peachy tangerine flowers that cover the tall stalks. These orange flowers have a small red line on the petals, adding an extra dose of drama. Add this foxtail lily to your sunny perennial beds.
Foxtrot
This variety displays a charming burst of sweet, pale pink blooms.
| | botanical name Eremurus ‘Foxtrot’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 4-5 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5-8 |
If you love the look but prefer a softer palette, ‘Foxtrot’ is a great choice for your gardens. Growing to 5 feet tall, these dense stalks of flowers will bloom in a very sweet and pale shade of pink. Add ‘Foxtrot’ to cottage-style gardens or ornamental grass gardens for a surprising pop of flowers.
Pinokkio
A compact variety, ‘Pinokkio’ reaches 3-5 feet height.
| | botanical name Eremurus x isabellinus ‘Pinokkio’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 3-5 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5-8 |
‘Pinokkio’ is a smaller variety of foxtail lily, growing from 3-5 feet tall. Deep orange flowers cover the flower stalks. ‘Pinokkio’ is short enough for the middle of a flower bed and fits well in a cottage-style foundation garden.
Romance
This variety is a stunning foxtail lily with salmon-pink flowers and yellow and orange stamens.
| | botanical name Eremurus ‘Romance’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 3-6 feet |
| | hardiness zones 5-8 |
‘Romance’ is a beautiful variety. The flower stocks are loaded with hundreds of salmon-pink flowers accompanied by yellow and orange stamens. This color combination makes for a fun, tropical look. Add ‘Romance’ to your bright perennial beds for beautiful height and dimension.
Shelford Pink
With salmon-pink blooms, ‘Shelford Pink’ is a vibrant choice for cut flower gardens.
| | botanical name Eremurus ‘Shelford Pink’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun |
| | height 4-6 feet |
| | hardiness zones 4-8 |
This variety blooms in a lovely shade of salmon-pink. ‘Shelford Pink’ makes an excellent addition to butterfly gardens, border gardens, or even your cut flower gardens. Plant this foxtail lily in a large grouping for maximum impact!
Common Problems
Foxtail lilies are tough and resistant tuberous plants. They rarely run into any issues. You may encounter problems if your foxtail lily is not in the correct growing conditions. Let’s look at some of the ones you may encounter with this perennial.
Pests
Combat pest issues with slug control products from a garden center.
Even though foxtail lilies tolerate many pests, they have been known for having problems with slugs and snails. These insects love dark and wet environments.
If you notice slugs or their damage on your plants, reconsider your plant’s location and your watering routine. Next, head to the local garden center and grab some slug or snail control. This or a beer trap set into the ground should take care of them.
Diseases
Foxtail lilies are often affected by root rot due to poor plant care and location.
Root rot is the most prevalent disease that affects foxtail lilies. This is sadly a direct result of plant location and plant care. Tubers need to grow in well-draining soil. If the soil is too wet, the tubers will begin to rot, eventually leading to plant death.
Unfortunately, once your plant’s roots begin to rot, little can be done. If you notice your plant declining, lift the tubers out of the ground and remove any of the rotting pieces. You should grow in raised beds if your soil is too heavy.
Frequently Asked Questions
While they can spread by seed, this should not cause concern. These perennials typically stay within their clumps and respond very well to being divided if you want to expand your collection.
No research states that foxtail lilies are toxic to pets or humans. While not technically toxic, these plants are not classified as edibles, and eating them should be avoided.
While possible, it would be very tricky. The container size needed to grow healthy plants would be very large. Because of this, it is not recommended that you grow these perennials indoors, but rather save them for your outdoor garden spaces.
Final Thoughts
There are so many reasons to plant foxtail lilies it’s hard to come up with an argument for skipping on this plant. If you have full sun, love beautiful flowers that are critter resistant, make great cut flowers, and are extremely low maintenance, this plant is for you. Plant your tubers in the fall for a beautiful garden come next summer!
