The steppe candle (Eremurus) is popularly known as Cleopatra's needle because of its striking flower shape. It is a perennial and hardy plant because it overwinters in the ground using rhizomes and the above-ground part of the plant grows anew every year.
The steppe candle can be planted out practically at any frost-free season
The best time for planting
Specimens purchased in pots from specialist retailers can, with a little care and attentive care, usually be planted outdoors from spring to autumn without any major problems. If, on the other hand, the plant is purchased bare-root in rhizome form, early autumn should be chosen as the time for planting. Existing stocks of the clump-like plant can also be transplanted after the flowering period, when the plant has already withdrawn into its outlasting organ. The autumn planting should not be done too late, so that the plant can root well before winter and bloom vigorously in the following year.
Important information about planting
Steppe candles prefer a sunny and wind-protected location with permeable and nutrient-rich soil. For optimal development, the following parameters should be observed:
- do not plant the rhizomes deeper than 10 to 15 centimeters below the soil surface
- dig the planting hole a little wider and fill it with a mixture of soil and sand
- add compost to ensure long-term fertilization
tips
When planting the "starfish-shaped" rhizomes of the various Eremurus species, you should proceed as gently as possible, as they are relatively brittle.