Foxtail Lilies, or hybrid Eremurus, are striking garden plants which can be grown well in zones 7 and up, but in our zone 5 garden, I have some success with growing them in full sun, if planted in gravel. Not to be confused with true lilies ( Lilium), which you can see growing below just to the right of an Eremurus, this genus hails from central Asian, specifically Turkey and the Caucasus, where in some meadows in Iran, it can be the most common flower. The hybrids commonly available in the trade, are more growable and colorful. Known as Desert Candles, the common name gives a hint to the culture it prefers, mainly, cold, dry winters, and rainy in the summer which drains off of the tuberous roots.
