Foxtail Lily 'Yellow Cleopatra'

Wherever 'Yellow Cleopatra' grows, it draws the eye upwards. A strong stem with a dense spike of yellow starry flowers rises from a rosette of narrow leaves. They open gradually from the bottom, so the spike stays in flower for weeks and looks brighter day by day.

At about 120–140 cm, it belongs in the back rows. It contrasts beautifully with violet sage, blue delphiniums or catmint, and the yellow also glows against dark red foliage. In gravel and prairie gardens it fits among grasses and drought-tolerant perennials. A large, deep container is possible but only partly suitable.

The many small flowers provide plenty of food for bees and bumblebees in early summer. For the vase, cut once the lowest flowers are open. The foxtail lily does not naturalise, but in a warm, well-drained spot it becomes more imposing from year to year. If you plant several, you get a glowing group in early summer that is visible from a distance and gives the border structure.

Plant 'Yellow Cleopatra' in September or October. Form a small mound of sand in the planting hole and lay the star-shaped root flat on top, with the bud covered by only about 5 cm of soil. Handle the delicate roots carefully. A sunny to lightly shaded spot with free-draining soil and a spacing of 30–40 cm is ideal.

Protect the young shoots from late frost in spring with fleece. Leave the foliage after flowering until it turns yellow. Waterlogging is the greatest enemy, especially in winter. Otherwise the plant needs hardly any care and can stay in the same place for many years.