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Eremurus robustus

Foxtail Lily

Family AsphodelaceaeGenus Eremurus

Tall dense spires of small pale pink flowers on smooth green stalks, standing above a mown lawn in a garden.
FlowerDiego DelsoCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
perennial or tuberous geophytePlants of the World Online
Flower
Deep pink, pale pink, whiteWikipedia
Native range
Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Tadzhikistan, UzbekistanGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • The foxtail lily, or giant desert candle, comes from the Tien Shan and Pamir mountains of Central Asia. Its stem reaches 1.8 to 3 m, and its leaves, up to 10 cm wide, are the widest in its genus. Wikipedia: Eremurus robustus

Two sources report 4 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on January 23, 2026.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    7 germinated in this phase.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    7 germinated in this phase.

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 12 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5, in 77 days.

47% germination in 7–77 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Eremurus p. 41Public domain
Show the original text
Eremurus (Liliaceae). E. robustus has now been studied on a much larger sample. This fresh seed germ. 40(7% in 1-8 w)-70-40(7%)-70-40(47% in 1-11 w), 70D( 1 %)-40(25% in 3-12 w)-70D(3%)-40(22% in 2-10 w)-70-40(7/83), and OT(6%). Light, GA-3, or DS for 1 y had little effect. Germination is largely at 40. The seedlings are programmed to grow at temperatures around 40. If young seedlings are shifted to 70, the cotyledon develops quickly and dies.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Eremurus p. 41. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 14, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 13, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    1 germinated in this phase.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    3 germinated in this phase.

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    22 germinated in this phase.

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  6. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    7/83 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 84 days.

25% germination in 21–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Eremurus p. 41Public domain
Show the original text
Eremurus (Liliaceae). E. robustus has now been studied on a much larger sample. This fresh seed germ. 40(7% in 1-8 w)-70-40(7%)-70-40(47% in 1-11 w), 70D( 1 %)-40(25% in 3-12 w)-70D(3%)-40(22% in 2-10 w)-70-40(7/83), and OT(6%). Light, GA-3, or DS for 1 y had little effect. Germination is largely at 40. The seedlings are programmed to grow at temperatures around 40. If young seedlings are shifted to 70, the cotyledon develops quickly and dies.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Eremurus p. 41. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

No stated waiting before sowing.

6% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Eremurus p. 41Public domain
Show the original text
Eremurus (Liliaceae). E. robustus has now been studied on a much larger sample. This fresh seed germ. 40(7% in 1-8 w)-70-40(7%)-70-40(47% in 1-11 w), 70D( 1 %)-40(25% in 3-12 w)-70D(3%)-40(22% in 2-10 w)-70-40(7/83), and OT(6%). Light, GA-3, or DS for 1 y had little effect. Germination is largely at 40. The seedlings are programmed to grow at temperatures around 40. If young seedlings are shifted to 70, the cotyledon develops quickly and dies.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Eremurus p. 41. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 12, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 11, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 9 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 28 days.

100% germination in 28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Eremurus p. 139Public domain
Show the original text
Eremurus (Liliaceae). Germination occurred at 40 as is typical of cold desert plants. E. robustus germ 70-40-70-40(2/2 in 4th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Eremurus p. 139. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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