Impressive clump-forming perennials that hail mainly from dry grassland, semi-arid and mountainous regions throughout central and western Asia. In early summer their thick, fleshy roots produce a loosely tufted rosette of strap-shaped leaves from which a magnificent, upright flowerspike emerges that can reach up to 3m tall. This is densely packed with hundreds of buds, which open slowly from the base to star-shaped flowers with showy stamens. Once it has finished flowering the whole plant will die back and remain dormant until the following spring. Plant in a sunny spot with shelter from strong winds in fertile, well-drained soil, creating a wide shallow hole, sitting the rootstock on a 5cm (2”) mound of coarse sand. Young growth can be susceptible to frost damage.