Your Cool Home is supported by its readers. Please assume all links are affiliate links. If you purchase something from one of our links, we make a small commission from Amazon. Thank you!
You can grow foxtail lilies successfully if you give them the right spot, well-drained soil, and a bit of patience.
These striking perennials, also known as Eremurus, send up tall spires of tiny flowers that look like bottle brushes or fox tails.
If you’ve been wondering how to grow foxtail lilies, the good news is that they’re not as fussy as their dramatic appearance suggests.
In this post, we’ll walk through exactly how to grow foxtail lilies from choosing the right location to planting, watering, and overwintering them.
We’ll also share common mistakes to avoid so you can enjoy these towering beauties year after year.
Let’s get right into it.
How to Grow Foxtail Lilies: The Essentials
The first step in learning how to grow foxtail lilies is understanding their basic needs.
Foxtail lilies are native to dry, sunny regions, so they crave full sun and sharp drainage.
They don’t like wet feet, and they definitely don’t like heavy clay soil.
When you want to know how to grow foxtail lilies, always start with site preparation because that’s where most successes and failures are decided.
Here are the core requirements for how to grow foxtail lilies successfully.
1. Choose a Sunny, Sheltered Spot
Foxtail lilies need at least six hours of direct sunlight each day to flower well.
The more sun they get, the stronger the flower spikes will stand.
If you’re figuring out how to grow foxtail lilies in a windy garden, pick a spot sheltered from strong gusts.
The tall flower stalks can reach four to six feet, and heavy winds may snap them if they’re unprotected.
A south-facing border against a warm wall works brilliantly.
2. Perfect the Soil for Foxtail Lilies
Now, this is the most crucial part of how to grow foxtail lilies.
These plants absolutely demand well-drained soil, and they hate sitting in water during winter dormancy.
Before planting, amend your soil with plenty of grit, coarse sand, or perlite to improve drainage.
If you have clay soil, consider building a raised bed or creating a mound.
A slightly alkaline to neutral pH is ideal, so add a little lime if your soil is acidic.
When you think about how to grow foxtail lilies, remember that drainage is more important than fertility.
3. Plant the Crowns at the Right Depth
Foxtail lilies grow from starfish-like rhizomes or crowns, and planting depth is critical.
If you’re asking how to grow foxtail lilies, here’s the golden rule: plant the crowns about four to six inches deep.
Place each crown at a slight angle with the buds facing upward, just below the soil surface.
Space them 18 to 24 inches apart to allow for their spreading root systems.
The best time to plant is in early autumn, so the roots establish before winter.
However, you can also plant in spring after the frost has passed.
4. Water Wisely When Learning How to Grow Foxtail Lilies
Foxtail lilies have a unique watering need compared to many perennials.
They prefer a dry summer dormancy, so you should ease off watering once the foliage dies back.
During the active growing season, keep the soil moderately moist but never soggy.
Water deeply but infrequently, and always let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings.
If you want to know how to grow foxtail lilies in a rainy climate, you must improve drainage even more aggressively.
A gravel mulch around the crowns helps keep moisture away from the base.
When to Plant Foxtail Lilies for Best Results
Timing plays a big role in how to grow foxtail lilies.
Getting the planting window right ensures the roots develop before the heat of summer or the chill of winter.
Here’s what you need to know about timing.
Autumn Planting Is Preferred
The best time to plant foxtail lilies is in September or October.
Planting in autumn gives the crowns time to establish a strong root system while the soil is still warm.
This head start leads to more vigorous growth and larger flower spikes the following year.
If you’re learning how to grow foxtail lilies, autumn planting is your safest bet.
Spring Planting Works Too
You can also plant foxtail lilies in early spring, but you may get smaller blooms in the first year.
Spring-planted crowns often need a full season to settle in before they flower at their best.
Just make sure the danger of hard frost has passed and the soil is workable.
Regardless of the season, the key to how to grow foxtail lilies is consistent moisture after planting until you see new growth.
Foxtail Lily Care: Feeding and Maintenance
Once your foxtail lilies are established, ongoing care is fairly straightforward.
But there are a few tricks to keep them thriving and blooming abundantly.
Let’s explore how to grow foxtail lilies with proper feeding and maintenance.
Feed Sparingly But With the Right Nutrients
Foxtail lilies are not heavy feeders, so avoid rich or fresh manure.
A balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied in early spring works perfectly.
You can also top-dress with compost, but keep it away from the crown to prevent rot.
Too much nitrogen encourages leafy growth at the expense of flowers, which is counterproductive to how to grow foxtail lilies.
Potassium and phosphorus are more important for strong stems and plentiful blooms.
Stake Tall Flower Spikes
Some varieties of foxtail lilies can reach impressive heights.
Even with a sheltered spot, a sudden storm can knock them over.
Use bamboo stakes or a sturdy plant support early in the season.
Place the stake right next to the emerging shoot so you don’t damage the crown later.
This simple step is often overlooked when people ask how to grow foxtail lilies successfully.
Cut Back After Flowering
Once the flowers fade, you can cut the spent flower spike down to the base.
However, leave the foliage to die back naturally.
The leaves photosynthesize and store energy in the crown for next year’s bloom.
In late summer or early autumn, when the leaves turn yellow, you can remove them gently.
This natural cycle is a key part of how to grow foxtail lilies, as the plant needs that rest period.
Overwintering Foxtail Lilies
Winter care is another crucial aspect of how to grow foxtail lilies.
These plants are generally hardy, but their crowns can be vulnerable to wet cold.
Here’s how to protect them during the dormant season.
Mulch for Insulation and Drainage
In colder zones, apply a thick layer of dry mulch, such as straw or bracken, over the crown.
This protects against deep freezes and temperature swings.
In wetter regions, a layer of gravel or coarse grit helps keep the crown dry.
The goal is to prevent the roots from freezing solid or drowning in waterlogged soil.
This balance is at the heart of successful foxtail lily cultivation.
Container Growing Considerations
If you’re unsure how to grow foxtail lilies in a very wet climate, containers are a great option.
Plant crowns in a large pot with gritty, free-draining compost.
Move the container to a sheltered, dry spot during winter, like a cold frame or against a south wall.
This gives you complete control over drainage and winter moisture.
So, How Do You Grow Foxtail Lilies?
So, now that you’ve read through all these tips, here’s the short version of how to grow foxtail lilies.
You can grow foxtail lilies successfully by planting the crowns in full sun with sharp drainage, and by protecting them from winter wet.
Give them a sunny, sheltered site, and amend the soil with grit so water never lingers around the roots.
Plant the crowns four to six inches deep in autumn, water them sparingly, and feed lightly in spring.
Stake the tall flower spikes to keep them upright, and let the foliage die back naturally after blooming.
Then, mulch over the crowns in winter to guard against cold and damp.
Following this advice on how to grow foxtail lilies will reward you with spectacular, towering floral displays that become the centerpiece of your garden.
These unique perennials are well worth the small extra effort they demand.
So go ahead, pick a sunny spot, prep the soil, and plant some foxtail lilies this season.
You’ll be amazed at the exotic beauty they bring to your landscape.