Eremurus isabellinus Cleopatra - Foxtail Lily

Eremurus 'Cleopatra', also known as Steppe Lily or Cleopatra's Needle, is a perennial with fleshy roots that forms a clump in summer. It is one of the most spectacular plants in the garden with its rare colour. In June, spikes of 20 to 50cm (7.9 to 19.7in) long are composed of hundreds of small star-shaped flowers in a yellow-orange colour, measuring 1 to 2cm (0.4 to 0.8in) in diameter. The flowers open from bottom to top, allowing the plant to have a flowering over several weeks.

The desert lily, native to Central Asia, is one of the smallest species of Eremurus, reaching a height of 1.30m (4ft 4in). The bulb of the Eremurus resembles a small octopus with its 20cm (7. in) diameter. It is more of a tuberous stump composed of roots all around than a bulb. This stump produces lanceolate leaves (in the shape of a lance) measuring 15 to 30cm (5.9 to 11.8in) long. They dry up when the first flowers appear. That's why it is suitable for perennial beds that will hide its base, but the bed should not be too compact to avoid suffocating it. It is a hardy plant that can withstand temperatures down to -12°C.

This outdoor plant can be found either in groups or as a solitary plant. It enhances houses when placed in a vase. It can also be placed in borders, rockeries, as well as in containers for small gardens. Eremurus 'Cleopatra' is a hybrid named Eremurus x isabelllinus, resulting from cross-breeding between Eremurus olgae and Eremurus stenophyllus.