Kniphofia is a striking uncommon perennial native to South Africa. Its blooming is truly unique and produces very ornamental results. Caring for this plant is easy, and it will quickly settle in the background portions of your garden flower beds.
| Name | Kniphofia |
|---|---|
| Family | Asphodelaceae |
| Type | perennial |
| Height | 20 to 50 inches (50 to 150 cm) |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Soil | chalky |
| Flowering | early summer to late autumn |
It’s recommended to plant your kniphofia in spring with a spacing of about 16 inches (40 cm) between plants so that they can spread and grow well.
You can mix soil from your garden together with flower plant soil mix, this will lead to better results.
Red hot pokers range from knee-high clumps for the front of a border to spires taller than a metre. Height and flowering time are what decide where a plant earns its place.
| Variety | Flower colour | Height | Flowering season |
|---|---|---|---|
| ‘Little Maid’ | Buff buds opening pale lemon | About 24 in (60 cm) | Late summer to early autumn |
| ‘Tawny King’ | Tawny orange buds, cream flowers | About 40 in (100 cm) | Midsummer to late summer |
| ‘Percy’s Pride’ | Greenish yellow | About 40 in (100 cm) | Late summer to early autumn |
| ‘Alcazar’ | Orange-red | About 36 in (90 cm) | Early summer to midsummer |
| Popsicle Series | Orange, mango or lemon shades | 16-24 in (40-60 cm) | Early summer, repeating into autumn |
| ‘Nancy’s Red’ | Coral red | 24-30 in (60-75 cm) | Midsummer to early autumn |
Remove wilted flowers regularly (deadheading) in order to boost appearance of new flower scapes. Protect the base of your kniphofia with a high-quality mulch for the winter, particularly if the climate is rather cold in your area. It’s the key to seeing your plant sprout back up again in the following spring.
Colorful hues of red, orange and yellow definitely make this plant look like fireworks. Its tall, upright bursts of flowers will catch the eye of every casual passer-by – even from the back of the flower bed! Imagine the impact in an indoor bouquet!
Truly an original flower, this perennial also has creative common names: red hot poker and torch lily, to name a few. Hardy enough to survive in our temperate climates, kniphofia will survive low temperatures, even below freezing. With luck, the flowers will keep coming up deep into December.
Kniphofia is a flower that produces and abundance of nectar. It will contribute to attracting pollinators to your garden.
Adding fertilizer in spring will help increase the blooming, especially for potted Kniphofia.
