Eremurus robustus grows in the Tien Shan and Pamire mountains in Turkestan. It grows up to 10 feet high with pale pink flowers 1 ˝ in across with brown marked bases and yellow stamens. The blue green leaves are 4 ft long and 4in wide. Spread 4 feet. Its roots are long and need care when planting or when later dividing. Like other Eremurus it is an “unsocial” plant and needs space with nothing shading it out. It starts flowering in June and continues for several weeks. Attractive to butterflies.
Noble perennial plants with tuberous roots shaped rather like a dead starfish. Although considered difficult we find that if the circumstances are right they really are much more accommodating than is first imagined. Treat them as solitary plants without shade over the soil in which they grow, especially in the summer when this needs to be sun warmed. The early forms in particular emerge early and may need protection against really sharp frosts, and they are palatable to slugs at this stage too. But most of the early references suggest they will only grow on light soil, and our experience is that this is not true, they positively revel in our heavy loam. Whilst they might appeal as a plant for the back of the border, this often becomes a shaded site in the summer and is not ideal in most cases.
Planting instructions
Plant in well drained soil about 6 inches deep making the hole larger than the root is wide and the crown only a few inches below the soil level. Allow about 18” spacing. They prefer lighter soils but more important to provide space and light. They might need a mulch against extreme cold as they emerge early undisturbed and care should be taken against slugs.
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