How to identify Desert candle (Eremurus)

How to identify Desert candle (Eremurus)

Desert candle is distinguished by its striking vertical stature with solitary towering spikes that can attain an impressive height of up to 8 feet (2.4 meters). These central spires are adorned with hundreds of closely packed, sweetly scented, petite blooms. The individual flowers bloom sequentially from bottom to top, presenting a gradient of maturity along the length of each spike. The lush display of flowers creates a resemblance to a bottle brush or a fox’s tail, in a palette of various hues. The overall silhouette of desert candle with its bloom-laden spike is reminiscent of an ornate candlestick.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Herb

Leaf Type: Semi-evergreen

Quickly Identify Desert candle

Tower-like spikes up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall

Sequential blooming from bottom to top

Densely packed star-like blooms in various colors

Narrow, strap-like leaves up to 2 feet (60 cm) long

Basal rosette foliage with parallel vein pattern

Detailed Traits of Desert candle

Leaf Features

Desert candle leaves emerge in early spring, presenting as narrow, strap-like structures that reach up to 2 feet (60 cm) in length. They are usually green with a slightly glossy texture and possess a smooth margin. The leaves are arranged in a basal rosette and exhibit a parallel vein pattern. Being frost-sensitive, they require protection in early spring. As the plant begins to flower, the foliage typically withers back.

Learn About the Leaf Glossary

Flower Features

The flowers of desert candle are renowned for their spectacular display, featuring hundreds of small, star-like blooms adorning tall, slender spikes that can reach up to 6 feet (180 cm) in height. Each individual flower, typically about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter, comes in shades ranging from white and yellow to pink and orange. The flowers are densely packed along the spike, creating a radiant column of color. Blooming in late spring to early summer, they emit a light, pleasant fragrance, making them ideal for fresh-cut arrangements.

Learn About the Flower Glossary

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