Eremurus

I am concerned about growing eremurus in my zone (5). Has anyone started them in pots, wintered them over and set the pots out in spring?

I've grown several types of eremurus in the ground in 5a for many years without problem. They need good drainage, and one thing you have to watch for, is that they tend to come up very early in the Spring and then can be damaged by late hard freezes, so in Spring I do put a little pile of bark mulch on the growing tip if it's going to get really cold.
Don

Thanks, Don. I'll try it in a protected area. I live up on a hill and it gets pretty windy here (west wind) even though we have several hickory and white pine to block some of the wind.

I have a related question about these. How duarble are the flower stalks?

We live on a mountainside where wind whips down the valley and across our property. A "protected area" is a relative term for us. We can protect them from freezing, but we've had problems with adult non-woody plants being blown over (lupines for example).

I've been afraid to try these because I was not sure how durable the stem is. No one around here seems to have them - I've never seen a live one to tell for myself.
Thanks!

I'd say the flower stalk is quite durable if they're grown in full sun; durability is relative, but I'd say more durable than a lily, for example.The flowers are relatively small, so they really don't catch the wind that much.
Don

That's a good comparison. Thanks for the help!
Another plant for my wish list this spring. :)

Hi,

I have grown foxtails for 5 years and absolutely love them. The "roots" are very fleshy and brittle and I would caution you about starting them in pots unless they are very small. They are very difficult to handle/ transplant without breaking some portion of the spidery root no matter how careful you are and they do take a season or 2 to establish themselves enough to bloom. I think you would be better off directly planting them in a raised bed in full sun, with lots of room, and excellent drainage and mulch heavily with evergreen boughs, straw, or some other "open" type of mulch. I use the fronds from my cinnamon ferns as winter protection and they work well. As far as wind goes, I think this is the only plant that I have grown that does not need staking despite the very tall flower stalk. The stalks are very substantial, sturdy even being whipped by a pretty strong NW wind at times. Compared to lilies and even German iris I have grown, the flower stalk is much stronger. Maybe this is because the flowers are smaller, do not weigh as much?

I have planted them very late in the season (mid Dec.!), as long as the ground can still be worked, so I would think you still have time...

Good luck and enjoy!

Cam

Thanks, Cam. I am giving it a whirl.

How deep did you plant your eremurus?

Hi!

If they have a "sprout " visible, plant with the tip about 4" deep. If the root has no visible tip, but only a depression where leaves or and old flower stalk may have been, just 2" deep is good. Remember though that you are also going to add additional mulch coverage, especially in your chilly area so probable finished depth would be about 6". Please plant in a raised area, as these foxtails are so prone to winter rot if water collects or puddles over them. Plant as you would a German iris or a daylily, making your planting hole and mounding a soil "cone" in the center to spread the roots out over. Make sure you leave no air pockets but be careful handling those roots. Never saw a root so fragile!

Additional info you may find suprising!

Foxtails do not develop a deep root system and the majority of roots in an established clump will be beefy as in your starting corm, with very few smaller tributary roots. The roots remain very near the surface and to my surprise, can spread 2-3' from the original corm! In other words, give them plenty of room and be very careful in working the soil anywhere near them as you too may be surprised! They like a fertile woodsy, sandy loam, loose soil that makes it easy for the roots to spread and require very little watering, unless you have a terribly dry hot spell in early spring. Fertilize in spring and again after bloom.
They are also summer dormant and will go back to sleep after blooming. Do not panic, they are not dying! The leaves will gradually brown like a daff or tulip and can be removed. Allow the flower stalk to fully mature and have fun with the seeds! By late July/early August all sign of them will have disappeared, but if you take a peak, by October, a new tiny plant bud can be seen...... I know, I had to peak my 1st year as I had no idea they "disappeared" and I thought they had died!

I hopes this helps! An established clump is so beautiful and eyecatching!

Happy Planting!

Cam

Thanks again, Cam. I appreciate the information. When I figure out how to work my digital camera and download to the computer, I'll have to show you were I planted them. I decided to put them in a raised bed that I ammended with organic soil last year. The bed is surrounded with a layer of rocks, so we refer to it as a rock garden. The mound raises up toward the center and then down on the opposing side. The eremerus that I had in the pots were set in organic soil with sand added at about 4" deep + a mulch of wood chips. I was lucky that the soil from the pot made a little cone, which prevented the roots from breaking (or so it seemed). I'll just have to cross my fingers and wait for spring!
One more question. Did you need to protect them from our furry little friends?
Thanks again from a former Michigander.....St. Joseph near L. Michigan...
Mary

Hi Mary,

Happy to hear you've got your foxtails planted!
Sounds like your spot should do just fine and the soil mixture too. If you get a real Xmas tree, you can use the cut up boughs afterwards as additional protection.

I meant to ask if you had bought your foxtails already potted or as bare roots. The ones already potted seem to handle a little better in terms of fragility and will probably bloom for you next June. Being in the soil does make the roots more pliable, as does a warmer temp. They sure are strange looking, aren't they?

I have never had a problem with any little critters getting into the foxtails, other than bees! I suppose they are furry too! But as far as digging, munching, or uprooting critter varieties, no. When I planted my original 6 foxtail, I planted18 (in several groups) Fritillaria, Crown Imperials in the same bed and trust me, I do not know of anything that would go near that bulb! Don't know if you are familiar with them or not, but they reek of skunk! Maybe this taught the critters early on to stay away!
In addition, when I cut my cinnamon fern fronds for mulch, due to the whipping winds we'd get, once the fronds completely dried, a few good gusts would usually rearrange them or blown them away completely. I take a large peice of the open mesh bird netting, the kind that has about 1" squares, stretch it over the entire bed, and secure it in place just using sticks. (How very sophisticated!) This does work very well and would also make it almost impossible for anything to dig in this bed. If I had to wager a guess, and I was a mommy bunny, I would love to cozy up and nest in this bed, it would make the perfect nursery for wee little bunnies. The netting also deters any ideas of this. (I'm such a meanie!) I usually take the netting off in early March and loosen the mulch covering a bit, gradually removing it as the weather warms.

Happy to hear from another Michigander! Being where you were in St.Joe's, I bet you saw many a snowy winter! I have family in Grand Haven on Lake MI. and wow, winters are fierce! Wisconsin is alot like Michigan in many respects, maybe feels a bit like "home"?

Keep me posted, I'm curious as to how your foxtails do. I personally do not know anyone else that grows them! Oh, and if you want to try the bird netting, I have tons to spare and can send you some for postage, just give me the measurements you will need. You would probably have a hard time finding it this time of year locally.

Take care!

Cam

Cam:
Check your e-mail

Mary