Pustynnik Eremurus, also known as the steppe lily or Cleopatra's needle, belongs to the golden-headed Asphodelaceae family. Eremurus robustus and Eremurus stenophyllus are usually grown in gardens.
The first one grows up to 2 meters high and develops even a 1-meter flowertan, the second is half the size and with a correspondingly shorter (25-30 cm) inflorescence .Both bloom in June and July. The giant desert grouse has pink flowers; narrow-leaved, in addition to pink, also white, salmon, yellow and orange.
The underground part of these plants are thick rhizomes with a few star-shaped tuberous roots (very fragile, be careful not to damage them).Pustynniki should be planted in September, with a layer of coarse sand drainage at a depth of 15 centimeters under them, because their roots are sensitive to excess water in the soil (both in summer and in winter).During intensive periods development of leaves and shoots, especially when rain is scarce, the plants need to be watered.
In spring, let's feed them with multi-component fertilizers.Pustynniki grow best in sunny, secluded places, in a sandy-clay soil, rich in nutrients.
Unfortunately, their leaves die quickly after flowering, leaving empty spaces around. That is why it is worth planting nearby plants that grow widely: decaying plants, turf daredevils (these are ornamental grasses), gypsophila paniculata, brilliant rudbeckia, and dahlias. For the winter, we protect the desert plants with a thick layer of leaves or with a garland.After a few years, change their place.
