Eremurus spectabilis
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Asphodelaceae
- Genus
- Eremurus
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 1 m
- Spread
- 0.6 m
- Fertility
- Bees
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees
Uses
Edible uses
Young shoots - cooked[7][9][10]. Considered to be a delicacy in Siberia, the flavour is intermediate between purslane and spinach[3]. It is by no means a disagreeable vegetable[3].
- Plant part
- Leaves
Material uses
The root contains about 30% gum (an arabinic acid derivative) and this makes a good quality glue[10]. The bulb is dried and powdered and then used for sizing cloth, bookbinding etc[2].
- Product or use
- Adhesive
- Product or use
- Gum
- Product or use
- Size
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - Siberia.
- Habitat
- Stony slopes and steppes[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[4]. 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[5]. Division after the plant dies down in late summer. Great care must be taken because the plants resent root disturbance[4]. 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[5]. 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[11][4]. 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[4]. Some protection should be given to the young shoots in spring in areas subject to late frosts[4]. Keep plants dry in summer after they have flowered[11]. A very ornamental plant[1] and a good bee plant[10]. Plants resent root disturbance and so should be placed in their final positions as soon as possible[4]. This species, in part at least, is also known as E. caucasicus Stephen[8]. Tubers should be planted 15cm deep[1]. The edible young shoots are sold in local markets in Siberia[7]. Plants require some cold stratification in winter in order to flower well in the following summer[4]. Slugs are very attracted to this plant so some protection must be given.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Chakravarty. H. L. The Plant Wealth of Iraq.
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
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
Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00
Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30253-1