How to grow foxtail lilies: expert tips

Fall is a busy time for gardeners. Even though not much is growing at this time of year, it is still the ideal time to put your bulbs in the ground before frost.

If you are looking for the best perennial bulbs to plant in fall and have difficulty making your final decisions, you should consider Eremurus. Also known as foxtail lilies, because of their flower spikes reminiscent of the animal’s tail, it’s no wonder these statement flowers are on the list of the best powerful lamps.

The good news is that there is still time to plant foxtail lilies for next summer’s show. Here we’ve put together the ultimate guide to growing foxtail lilies so you can start planting this season.

How to Grow Foxtail Lilies

The tips of foxtail lilies bloom in summer and come in a range of colors – from shades of orange to white and even pink – making them a valuable addition to a range backyard ideas and styles. No matter what color Eremurus whichever you choose, there are some important things you need to know to grow them successfully:

Facts to Consider About Growing Foxtail Lilies

Orange foxtail lily

(Image credit: Iva Vagnerova via Getty Images)

Foxtail lilies thrive US hardiness zone five Unpleasant zone eightblooming from late spring to summer.

‘This is a beautiful, perennial bulb that is unfortunately underused,’ says horticulture and flower bulb expert Peggy Anne Montgomery. ‘They make a strong architectural statement in any sunny border or rock garden.

‘They look especially nice against a dark background. Deer tend to avoid them, but pollinators love them. I never get around to it, but they also make great cut flowers.’

As perennials, it is important to cut back foxtail lilies after flowering to encourage returning flowers next year. When you do this, make sure you avoid it pruning mistakes that can affect your foxtail lilies’ ability to grow back.

‘They will remain dormant in the summer after they bloom. When the leaves are wilting, it is the best time to cut them back,” notes Peggy Anne Montgomery.

Another thing that makes these bulbs attractive is how they look underground. “The bare roots look like starfish,” says Peggy. This interesting structure makes Eremurus one of the best unusual bulbs to plant in autumn.

They are incredibly low maintenance once planted. ‘In addition to pruning after flowering, the right soil and watering, always try to keep each clump solitary. “By not keeping them too busy, the best growth results will emerge,” advises Ian Mendozahorticulturist and plant expert from the PlantIn app.

Peggy Anne Montgomery

Peggy Anne Montgomery is a horticultural professional with more than 30 years of U.S. and international experience in garden marketing and communications. As an account manager for the Garden Media Group, she currently represents the Dutch Royal Anthos, a trade organization for Dutch flower bulb growers and exporters in the US and Canada.

Growing guide for foxtail lilies

Foxtail lilies

(Image credit: Olga Seifutdinova via Getty Images)

Soil: ‘The best soil for foxtail lilies is a mixture of organically rich but well-drained soil,’ says Ian. If you are growing foxtail lilies in pots as part of a container gardentry using this potting mix for container plants from Amazon. You can also make your own mixture: ‘You can mix this medium with sandy loam with gravel or pebbles. A great mixture would consist of approximately 60% garden soil, 10-20% coarse sand, 20-30% pebbles and 10% compost,” suggests Ian. When planting your Eremurus bulbs, plant them about 10 to 15 centimeters deep and at least 11 centimeters apart to avoid crowding. ‘Plant them as soon as possible after arrival, so that the rootstock does not dry out. It is helpful to cover the planting area with mulch to protect the roots and emerging foliage,” says Peggy.
Watering: After your bulbs are planted, be sure to water them well so they can get established in their new home. In the future, avoid overwatering these bulbs. ‘They need average water during the growing season. After the plants become dormant in the summer, you can stop watering unless there is a prolonged drought,” says Peggy. Use this moisture meter from Amazon can help identify when it’s time to water your plants. When the top inch of soil is dry, it’s time to top up the water level of your foxtail lilies.
Light: Of course, it is also important to properly position your foxtail lilies if you want them to be displayed impressively in the summer. ‘Foxtail lilies thrive best in full sun. Total exposure will help them produce more flowers which can grow very tall, up to around three metres,” Ian explains. Eremurus can be one lamp for partial shadebut it will not bloom as well as in full sun. ‘Places protected from wind are preferred, and in areas prone to late frosts it is a good idea to cover them with an inverted clay pot for extra protection,’ adds Peggy.
Pruning: As previously mentioned, foxtail lilies’ flowers will fade at the end of summer. This is when it is necessary skull They prepare them for the coldest season and encourage the plant to expend energy growing flowers for next year. ‘Cut them close to the ground so they can develop new leaves,’ advises Ian. ‘If you keep the flowers, they can self-seed and dry out. Then you can cut them and harvest the seeds,” he suggests. It can be helpful to let foxtail lilies go to seed if you wish collect seeds to plant elsewhere, or let these beautiful plants self-seed and emerge in other places in your garden. When you get your Eremurusdefinitely use essential pruning tools to make clean cuts, like this one Fiskars bypasses Amazon’s pruning shears.

Ian Mendoza

Ian Mendoza is a forester and horticulturist in the Philippines and has worked in the landscape maintenance and management sector for over five years. He is also a freelance botanist for the PlantIn app.

Frequently asked questions

Should You Fertilize Foxtail Lilies?

Foxtail lilies can benefit from being fertilized in the spring, just as their active growing season begins. It is best to use plant food with a high potassium content plant fertilizer numberto support the overall healthy growth of foxtail lilies. This high potassium fertilizer from Amazon is a good choice.

Should foxtail lilies be staked?

It may be helpful to stake foxtail lilies if they are struggling to sustain themselves. You know if you plant needs staking because they will fall over instead of staying upright. Due to the height that foxtail lilies reach, this can happen. It may also be wise to stake your foxtail lilies if they are in an exposed position where the wind can hit them.

There’s no doubt that planting foxtail lilies as part of your summer display will add impact. Try adding perennials to pair together to further improve your display. Don’t forget to add this to your fall gardening checklist and plant before the first frost.