Eremurus is a genus of roughly 65 species native to the steppes and mountain slopes of Central Asia, Russia, and Ukraine, where harsh winters and dry summers have shaped a plant built for extremes. The fleshy, star-shaped root systems spread horizontally just below the soil surface, and the long, strap-like leaves emerge in spring before dying back entirely after flowering. What remains is the spike: a dense, tapering column of hundreds of small flowers, rising anywhere from three to eight feet depending on the species or hybrid, in shades of clear yellow, apricot, pink, or white.

Plant the roots in full sun in sharply drained soil, with the crown just at or slightly below the surface — the spreading roots need room and resent waterlogging. A handful of grit beneath the crown helps in heavier soils. Foxtail lilies are deer-resistant and attract butterflies, and they make extraordinary cut flowers. Because the foliage disappears by midsummer, plant them where nearby perennials will close the gap gracefully.