Eremurus aucherianus
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Asphodelaceae
- Genus
- Eremurus
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Edible uses
- Plant part
- Leaves
Material uses
A glue is made from the mucilage contained in the root and is used with leather and in book-binding[4][5].
- Product or use
- Adhesive
Environment
- Range
- C. Asia.
- Habitat
- Dry stony heavily grazed hillsides[6].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- drought
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame[2]. Sow stored seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is obtained. Germination is slow and could take 1 - 12 months at 15°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow on for their first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out into their permanent positions in late spring after the last expected frosts. Do not plant deeply in the soil, the crown of the plant should be slightly exposed[3]. Division after the plant dies down in late summer. Great care must be taken because the plants resent root disturbance[2]. Only divide the plants when it is really necessary, and no more frequently than once every 6 years, being careful not to break the brittle roots[3]. It is probably best to pot up the divisions and grow them on in the greenhouse until they are established.
Cultivation
Prefers a very well drained, very rich, light sandy loam in a warm sunny sheltered position[6][2]. A covering of sharp sand helps the plant to survive wet winters. Plants can also be mulched overwinter with organic matter in the autumn in order to give them extra protection, but this mulch must be removed in the spring otherwise it might encourage the new growth to rot[2]. Some protection should be given to the young shoots in spring in areas subject to late frosts[2]. Keep plants dry in summer after they have flowered[6]. Plants resent root disturbance and so should be placed in their final positions as soon as possible[2]. Plants require some cold stratification in winter in order to flower well in the following summer[2]. Slugs are very attracted to this plant so some protection must be given.
References
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30253-1