Eremurus × isabellinus 'Romance' is a hybrid foxtail lily that produces tall, densely packed salmon-pink spikes in late spring to early summer. It grows from a fleshy, star-shaped rhizome with radiating roots and delivers strong vertical structure to borders and cutting gardens at a scale few perennials can match.
Sharp drainage is non-negotiable: the rhizome rots readily in waterlogged or clay-heavy soil. Plant the crown just at or slightly below the surface in fall, spreading the roots flat without bending them - they are brittle and break easily. Foliage emerges early, often weeks before the last frost, then dies back completely after the flowering period. Interplanting with mid-season perennials or ornamental grasses covers the resulting gap. In zones 6–7, a loose, dry mulch of coarse grit or straw applied after the ground cools limits frost heave without trapping moisture against the crown.
Crown Rot
Lower leaves yellow and wilt; the base of the rosette turns brown and soft, sometimes with white fungal threads at the soil line. Plants collapse in wet conditions.
Remove and destroy affected plants. Improve drainage and avoid overhead watering. Do not mulch directly against the crown. Space plants for airflow and avoid replanting in the same wet spot.
Root rot
Plants wilt, yellow, and stunt even in moist soil; lower stems and roots turn brown, soft, and mushy and the plant may collapse. Most common in heavy, wet, or poorly drained ground.
Improve drainage and stop overwatering, and never plant too deep. Lift and destroy badly affected plants along with the soil around the roots. Grow in raised or free-draining beds to prevent it returning.
Botrytis (grey mould)
Grey fuzzy mould on petals and stems, worst in cool wet conditions.
Remove affected parts immediately. Improve air circulation. Avoid overhead watering. Apply copper fungicide if severe.
Fungal leaf spot
Brown or purplish spots on the leaves, often ringed with a yellow halo, that spread and merge in warm, humid, or wet weather; heavily spotted leaves yellow and drop early.
Pick off spotted leaves and clear fallen debris to remove overwintering spores. Improve air circulation by thinning, and water at the base so foliage dries quickly. If it persists, apply a copper- or sulfur-based fungicide at the first sign.