When it comes to planting the Foxtail Lily (also known as the Desert Candle), timing is everything. If you want those spectacular, towering flower spikes and a healthy root system, you really need to get them in the ground during the fall. This window is also the sweet spot if you’re looking to transplant or propagate your plants.
The Foxtail Lily is a Hardy Perennial
The Foxtail Lily, or Eremurus, is a tough perennial that is winter hardy. Once you’ve planted it out, it can stay in the same spot year-round without much fuss.
The Best Time to Plant
Exactly when you should get your Eremurus in the ground depends on how you bought it. There are usually two ways you’ll find them:
- Pre-grown plants in pots
- Bare-root rhizomes (which look a bit like giant spiders!)
Potted Plants
If you bought your Foxtail Lilies already growing in pots, you have a lot more flexibility. You can generally plant these anytime from spring through fall. Since they already have established shoots, as long as you’re gentle during the transplanting process, the blooms should stay perfectly intact.
Bare-Root Rhizomes
On the other hand, bare-root rhizomes should always be planted in the fall. This gives them the entire winter to settle in and establish a strong root system. If you wait until spring to plant them, you’ll likely find that they won’t bloom that first year. The plant will put all its energy into growing roots first, and it simply runs out of time to send up those famous flower stalks.
When to Divide Your Plants
If you’re looking to propagate your lilies by dividing the rhizomes, fall is again your best bet. Wait until the foliage has completely died back after the flowering season. Just don’t wait *too* late into the season—the new divisions still need a little time to get established before the ground freezes so they can bloom on schedule next year.
Watch Out for Late Frosts
Even though these plants are hardy, keep an eye on them in early spring. If your Foxtail Lilies start poking their heads out of the ground and a late night frost is in the forecast, you’ve got to protect those tender shoots. If the new growth freezes, you won’t get any flowers that year. A simple burlap sack or some garden fleece draped over them will do the trick.
Pro tip: You can actually delay the shoots from popping up too early by covering the planting site with some brushwood, compost, or garden mulch. This keeps the ground a bit cooler and prevents the rhizomes from waking up before the frost danger has passed.
