It may still be very wet (it is raining again as I write) but it has been mild so far this winter and every day brings some more shoots pushing through the soil. Last autumn I planted a wide variety of bulbs, from daffodils to Juno iris, corydalis to alliums and most are showing themselves. It is a great time of year to be a gardener.

Though size is not everything, I have to say that it is the eremurus shoots that have me going back again and again for another look! Ok, its partly because they are planted in the rose beds and I have spent some of the past week in there pruning (more of rose pruning later in the week), but it is also because they are so dramatic.

The roots were planted in October. Eremurus (foxtail lilies) are remarkable for lots of reasons and the excitement starts as soon as you open the pack and get out the roots. Like spiders from the bottom of the deepest ocean, with buds that resemble the beaks of some giant squid, when I pick one up I can’t help wanting to run round with one to scare the living daylights out of some unsuspecting person ( you will be pleased to know that I have resisted so far).

The roots have to be planted as soon as possible because they dry out rapidly and if the roots are shriveled they will take longer to establish. Planting them is always a bit of a gamble and you cannot expect every one to flower in the first year. They need rich soil but one that is well drained and they need a spot that is in full sun. They seem to do well among roses and, because they are usually in bloom in June, they add height to the roses when they are both at their peak.

I dug out large planting beds about 15cm deep so the roots could be spread out and the tops covered in about 8cm of soil. Large alliums were planted among them and, in autumn, they were mulched with mushroom compost along with the roses. I planted several varieties but these are E. robustus. They were planted in clumps of four or five. Eremurus robustus is native to central Asia (Turkestan) and should reach 2.5-3m high when in bloom. It has leaves about 1m long and the stems have hundreds of pale pink flowers with yellow stamens.

Anyway, growth has started and it looks as though every root has grown and the thickness of the shoots suggests that most will produce flowers. Fingers crossed.

alliums, eremurus, eremurus robustus, foxtail lilies