EREMURUS ... GIANT OF THE GARDEN 
The Eremurus is an outstanding addition to 
any garden and a constant source of pleasure and 
amazement. It is easy to raise, is very hardy, and 
always attracts so much attention. 
In introducing this plant to you, we want you 
to understand its name so that you may speak it 
properly. It is derived from the Greek, meaning 
“lonely tail,” probably because of its solitary spike, 
and is pronounced er-ra mu’-rus. Botanically, the 
plant belongs to the Asphodel Tribe of the Lilia- 
ceae Family. 
The Eremurus came originally from high 
plateaus stretching from northern Persia, through 
Afghanistan, Himalaya, Altai, Mongolia and Rus- 
sian Turkestan, where the soil is fertile, the mois- 
ture sufficient, the drainage nearly perfect, and 
where the temperature varies from extreme heat 
in summer to extreme cold in winter. 
It was first introduced to European horticul- 
turists in 1800 and was brought to the United 
States about 1900. It is still comparatively un- 
known in this country, however, perhaps because 
of the long period required to bring a plant to ma- 
turity. It takes from four to seven years to pro- 
duce a blooming-size plant from seed. 
This long period of care also accounts for the 
price of these roots, which may seem a bit startling 
at first. It is well to remember, however, that they constitute a permanent 
planting and will thrive for years if the proper care is given them. 
Eremuri are among the most striking of garden plants, their flower stalks 
reaching a height of from three to twelve feet, depending upon their maturity, 
varicty and: the care which they receive. The majesty of these plants is ap- 
parent when those in Fig. 1 are compared with the small white flowers in the 
foreground as the latter were actually two feet high. The spire-like flower 
cluster may be from one to six feet long and often contains several hundred 
star-like, closely growing florets which remain in bloom for two or three weeks. 
It is a mistake to suppose that the Eremurus is not hardy; it will live 
through very severe winters if it has good drainage. Our stock in Eastern © 
_ Washington has endured winter temperatures of 40° below zero and we do not 
even mulch our plants. We have shipped them to Fairbanks, Alaska, where 
they were grown successfully. 
Growth starts just as soon as the frost is out of the ground in the spring, 
the bud pushing up as a large, white knob. As it grows higher, the leaves un- 
fold and stand erect and close together in a circle, opening somewhat during 
the heat of the day to give the bud the benefit of this warmth, and closing 
again in the evening for its protection. ‘At this time the bud is very tender and 
may be destroyed if moisture collects around it during the day and then freezes 
at night. Occasionally an entire crown may be damaged by frost but, if the 
plant is not removed, it will usually rebuild the damaged part and come up 
again the following year or the year after that. 
The flowering stalk grows very rapidly—sometimes four or five inches a 
day. When it rises above the tips of the leaves, these fall back as if their pro- 
tection were no longer needed. By this time the stalk is self-supporting and is 
not easily damaged. 
The dormant roots can also stand a great deal. We have subjected some 
of our roots to every hazard imaginable but, although occasionally retarded, 
they were not killed. In fact, one of the most admirable qualities of the 
Eremurus is its persistent determination to overcome unfavorable conditions 
and to survive. Transplanting a root will sometimes set it back so that it will 
not bloom the first year, particularly if it is moved to a new environment. but 
this should not discourage one as it will soon become reestablished and reward 
the gardener for many years. 
