Eremurus x isabellinus 'TROPICAL DREAM' desert candle, foxtail lily
size/type
tall perennial,tall perennial
usual height
1,3-1,5m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
showy
colour of flowers
blooming time
June-July
location
full sun
soil type
neutral
soil moisture requirements
dry and sharply drained (xeriscape)
USDA zone (lowest)
5 (down to -29°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Eremurus
Desert candle is a perfect name for this attractive perennial. And its other name foxtail lily is even funnier and tells the truth, too. This plant has sturdy stems that can grow 1-2m tall and half of the stem is decorated with small flowers of various colours.Description of the plant:
Tropical Dream is a dream of many lovers of exotic plants. This desert candle variety produces about 1.5m tall stems holding numerous star-shaped flowers. They emerge almost white with prominent orange stamens but as the spike opens more flowers upwards, they change colour to pale lemon yellow which looks absolutely exquisite, especially in mass plantings. Flowering begins in mid June and lasts until early July. Eremurus x isabellinus is a hybrid between e.olgae and e.stenophyllus where the latter gave this variety the warm tint of yellow colour while common eremurus is usually white or pink. Non scented flowers that are formed in upright racemes that can occupy almost half of its sturdy stems. They open individually from the bottom upwards in mid June and continue flowering for about 4 weeks.
The leaves are lance shaped, pale blue green to grey green, and die back after flowering. That is why it makes sense to accompany foxtail lily with late emerging plants which fill in the empty space when it becomes dormant for the rest of the season. Good choices are late emerging and flowering perennials such as summer hypericum or late summer to early autumn flowering ceratostigma or some non-invasive ornamental grasses which make most of mass and foliage in midsummer.
This perennial needs very well-drained soil mixed with sand to keep the roots from rotting. It should be reasonably fertile and fed once the leaves unroll until the flowers fade out. Its roots are fleshy and very fragile – be extra careful when transplanting it not to break them and don’t dig around the plant ever more. Winter mulching is recommended for colder areas. Grow it in full sun with shelter from strong wind and protect early emerging shoots from strong late frosts. Hardy to about -29 °C.
Last update 27-06-2021
Goods are shipped all over Europe. For Russia and U.K. and for further details please read about SHIPPING OPTIONS HERE.
Are you interested in a serious discount for orders NOV-FEB? Check your options here.
THE PRICES INCLUDE VAT of 15%. For quick conversion you can use 1 CZK = approx. 0.04 EUR
GLOSSARY
- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
