Botany Photo of the Day

Along with today's Botany Photo of the Day, Douglas Justice, Curator of Collections here at the UBC Botanical Garden, provides a helpfully informative entry.

Pictured are two Eremurus × isabellinus hybrids: first, dressed in peach-coloured flowers, 'Cleopatra'; second, an unknown yellow-flowered cultivar, probably 'Image', which only arose this year (in the second year) from amongst the stems of 'Cleopatra'. There are several group names for hybrid foxtail lilies, each referring to a particular place or breeder. For example, the best-known is the Shelford hybrid strain of foxtail lilies, developed by Sir Michael Foster (1836-1907) of Great Shelford, Cambridge, England. Foster was an eminent professor of physiology at Cambridge University, and he served as Secretary of the Royal Society as well. He was perhaps best known as an iris collector, and is remembered for his suggestion that, "horticulture is a pious occupation," substantiating his claim with the assertion that, "the gods rejoice when they see a good man struggling with adversity". Foster was among the first to receive the Victoria Medal of Honour from the RHS. In the popular literature, Eremurus × isabellinus hybrids are known as Shelford Hybrids—often even listed as E. × shelfordii—but 'Cleopatra' is actually a Highdown Hybrid, and 'Image' belongs to an increasingly popular group called the Ruiter Hybrids. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any substantial historical information on either of these two hybrid groups.

Foxtail lilies are challenging subjects, especially in Vancouver's wet winter climate. Their octopus-like, sprawling, fleshy rhizomes require perfect drainage, and the plants need maximum sun exposure to flower well; nevertheless, the hybrids are somewhat easier both to establish and to maintain than the wild species. I once heard the renowned gardener (and garden writer) Christopher Lloyd describe his method for cultivating foxtail lilies. He would dig a large hole in a well-drained, sunny spot, and pour builder's sand into the hole so that it would form a cone (the top of which was approximately 10 to 15 cm below the ground level); he would then lay the rhizome over the cone and backfill with the native garden soil. This would position the crown and arms of the rhizome appropriately and ensure that the rot-vulnerable underside of the rhizome would stay dry. Today's photograph was taken in the plaza at the entrance to the Botanical Garden. The soil here is relatively sandy, infertile and well-drained. The summer-flowering Koelreuteria paniculata (golden rain tree)—which prefers similar dry, sunny conditions—provides the background.