Tall, upright spikes flare in red, orange and yellow like fireworks above a clump of succulent leaves. Native to South Africa, the red hot poker (Kniphofia uvaria) is grown for nectar-rich flowers that pull pollinators to the back of a border; give it full sun and soil that drains freely, and it blooms from summer into fall.
| Name | Kniphofia |
|---|---|
| Family | Liliaceae |
| Type | perennial |
| Height | 20-50 inches (50-150 cm) |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Soil | chalky |
| Flowering | summer, fall |
The poker plant‘s bloom is unique and your guests will definitely give you a “Wow”! Caring for this plant, also known as Kniphofia (and, previously, Tritoma), is surprisingly easy.
It will quickly settle in the background portions of your garden flower beds.
Recommended is to plant red hot poker in spring and space plants at least 30 inches (40 cm) between neighboring plants.
You can mix soil from your garden together with flower plant soil mix, this will lead to better results.
A very easy plant to care for, red hot poker won’t give you any problems, especially if it’s well settled-in.
Even though the poker plant resists freezing pretty well (down to 8°F or -13°C), it helps to protect the foot of your poker plant with good mulch during winter if the climate in your area is cold.
Truly an original flower, this perennial also has creative common names: tritoma and torch lily, to name a few.
Hardy enough to survive in our temperate climates, red hot poker will survive low temperatures, even below freezing. With luck, the flowers will keep coming up deep into December.
The poker itself is a flower that produces and abundance of nectar. It will contribute to attracting pollinators to your garden.
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!
Main species include Kniphofia uvaria, shown in the main picture of this article at top, but there are around 70 in the entire family.
Varieties of red hot poker within K. uvaria come in many different colors and sizes:
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The named types differ mostly in colour and in how tall the flower spikes stand, which decides where they belong in the bed.
| Variety | Flower colour | Species | Stands out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ‘Primrose’ | Two-tone, purple and red | K. uvaria | Cute two-coloured blooms |
| ‘Torch lily’ | Orange-yellow | K. uvaria | The most classic of the group |
| ‘Fire Dance’ | – | K. hirsuta | Tallest here, nearing 5 feet tall |
| Pyromania ‘Orange Blaze’ | Stark orange | K. uvaria | Strongest single colour |
Whichever you pick, group three or four plants together for the fireworks effect.
Adding fertilizer in spring can increase the blooming.
