desert candles
- To: "'perennials'"
- Subject: desert candles
- From: S* C*
- Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 16:52:20 -0600
I've been fortunate enough to have blooms on two of the three
ereremus (aka foxtail lilies, desert candles, etc.) that I planted in my
zone 5b garden in Illinois.
I know that the plant has very fragile roots that (1) break easily
and (2) dry out easily when they are shipped with no peat moss. I got mine
from White Flower Farm and planted them right away and handled them
carefully. I also remember that they should not be planted too deeply, just
a few inches below the soil. I planted them in early fall.
I also had heard that they prefer excellent drainage, in particular
protection from winter wet. Since the bloom stalk is very tall and slender,
they also need protection from the wind.
I chose an area on the east side of my house, right at the
foundation, that is underneath eaves that stick out. This way, there isn't
much moisture from rain or snow (unless I water it myself) and some wind
protection. Of course, it isn't as sunny as it would be a few feet out from
the eaves, and so the bloom stalks tend to lean out towards the sun if I
don't stake them.
I have fairly decent Illinois loam, but I worked some leaf mold and,
especially, quite a LOT of sharp sand into the place where I planted them.
One plant (a tall white) bloomed the first summer after the fall
planting. The second one (salmony pink) bloomed the second summer. The
third plant was a smaller start to begin with and I don't know if it will
make it or not, but it has had foliage for both of the summers, so maybe
next year it will bloom too.
Hope this helps (I know they are expensive to experiment with).
Susan and David in Urbana, Illinois, zone 5b
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