Eremurus stenophyllus, or Bunge desert candle, sends up a spike to 3.5 feet tall with hundreds of yellow flowers from a rosette of foliage that resembles yucca (without the sharp spines). This plant thrives in full sun but can tolerate some shade and needs moisture during the winter, spring, and early summer. After flowering, the plants go dormant fairly rapidly, leaving the tall spike to mature the seed capsules. The seeds disperse in fall and sound like a rattle when hit by the wind.

The eye of the bulb is surrounded by an octopus-like array of roots and should be planted just below the soil surface. Unfortunately, stepping on the eye will kill the bulb, so the placement of a couple of stones around the base (to bear the weight of the gardener's shoe) is a good idea.

This stunning specimen plant is a native of central Asia where snow melt provides moisture early in the year. It bursts into growth in a very dramatic way. The foliage seems to spring from the ground, followed by the tall spikes of flowers.