Eremurus robustus seeds grow into the giant foxtail lily or giant desert candle — the largest species in the genus Eremurus, a tuberous geophyte endemic to the temperate biome of the Tien Shan and Pamir Alai mountains of Central Asia, from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Described by Regel (Eduard von Regel, 1815–1892, director of the St. Petersburg Botanic Garden). Synonym: Henningia robusta Regel. The epithet robustus means 'robust' or 'sturdy', reflecting the extraordinary stature of this species — the largest in the genus: the scape reaches 2–3 m in height; the basal leaves can reach 120 cm long (the widest in the genus); the dense, cylindrical inflorescence extends to 1.2 m, bearing 700–800 deep to pale pink or white flowers. Grows from a fleshy, star-shaped tuberous rootstock (not a corm or bulb). The leaves wither before or during flowering. The base of each flower has a characteristic brown blotch with a green keel. The basal roots have been used for glue extraction and food. The genus Eremurus derives from the Greek eremos (lonely/desert) + oura (tail). Family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae.Full sun; very well-drained, deep sandy or gritty soils; cool to cold temperate; dry summer dormancy; extremely cold-hardy. Plant the star-shaped rootstock horizontally just below the soil surface. Largest Eremurus species; scape 2–3 m; inflorescence 1.2 m; 700–800 flowers; leaves to 120 cm wide Described by Regel (1815–1892, director St. Petersburg Botanic Garden); synonym Henningia robusta Central Asia (Tien Shan & Pamir Alai — Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan) — temperate Star-shaped fleshy tuberous rootstock (not corm or bulb); plant horizontally; leaves wither at flowering Full sun; very well-drained deep soils; cold-hardy; dry summer; Family Asphodelaceae Eremurus robustus is the giant foxtail lily — the most imposing member of one of the most spectacular genera in the temperate plant world, its towering 3-metre scapes of pink flowers rising from the Central Asian mountain steppes in one of the most breathtaking displays in the summer garden. IMPORTANT: Pictures show the adult plant, which is not for sale. The offer is only for seeds.
