Giant Desert Candle (Eremurus robustus) is a towering perennial bulb that commands attention in any garden, reaching 8 to 10 feet tall with cylindrical flower spires packed densely with fragrant, pale pink blooms. Each flower spike rises from a basal clump of foliage like a giant candle or foxflower, earning its common name through sheer architectural drama. Hardy in zones 5 through 8, this robust plant handles drought once established and thrives in full sun with well-drained soil, making it a bold statement piece for gardeners who appreciate vertical drama and fragrance.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-8
120in H x 36in W
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Moderate
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Eremurus robustus produces flower spires reaching 3 to 4 feet long, densely packed with pale pink, 1.5-inch-wide fragrant blooms that tower above the foliage on leafless stalks in June and July. The starfish-shaped rootstock is as unusual as the flowers: a central crown with fleshy, tapering finger-like roots that spread outward, requiring careful planting over a soil mound much like a bare-root rose. Sandy loams suit it best, and once established, this drought-tolerant species tolerates poor conditions that would challenge other perennials, though it demands excellent drainage to avoid root rot in clay soils.
Giant Desert Candle is grown primarily as an ornamental specimen for its striking vertical flower spires and fragrant blooms. The flowers make excellent cut stems, bringing that towering architectural presence indoors during June and July.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Plant crowns in early fall in their permanent location; do not transplant after establishment.
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