Eremurus stenophyllus aurantiacus
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Asphodelaceae
- Genus
- Eremurus
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 1.5 m
- Spread
- 0.6 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Edible uses
- Plant part
- Leaves
Environment
- Range
- W. Asia - Turkestan.
- Habitat
- Dry stony heavily grazed hillsides[6].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- 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[3]. 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[3]. 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[6][3]. A covering of sharp sand helps the plant to survive wet winters[6]. 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[3]. Some protection should be given to the young shoots in spring in areas subject to late frosts[3]. Keep plants dry in summer after they have flowered[6]. A very ornamental plant[4], it is said to be an important food source in Afghanistan[2]. Plants resent root disturbance and so should be placed in their final positions as soon as possible[3]. Plants require some cold stratification in winter in order to flower well in the following summer[3]. Slugs are very attracted to this plant so some protection must be given[6].
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
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
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30253-1