Otherwise known as 'Red Hot Pokers', kniphofias are available in a variety of colours from white to lime-green, yellow, orange and deep red. They are all easily cultivated in full sun on most soil types, and have recently risen in popularity for their drought hardiness. With a range of different heights, the most common red hot poker flowers grown in Australia for landscaping are Kniphofia Uvaria, Yellow Hammer, Lime Glow, Percy’s Pride, Caulescens, Ensifolia, James Nottle and Traffic Lights to name a few. Kniphofia or commonly known as Red Hot Pokers are mainly grown for their tall brush like flowers. These can come in a range of colours and sizes depending on the plant such as reds, oranges, yellows and sometimes green. These evergreen perennials have a clumping habit which is drought and frost tolerant. The sword like foliage grows from rhizomes. There are two plants which have striking red flower spires in winter. Both are known as red hot pokers. One is the aloe, a succulent plant from Africa. The other, also from Africa, is a perennial called kniphofia, which forms a tufted, grass-like clump. The plants are both members of the lily family, Liliaceae.

‘The Red Hot Pokers’

Kniphofia or ‘Red Hot Pokers’ are a plant that prefers a position in full sun in a humus rich, moist well drained soil. Sometime called the ‘Torch Lily’ these easy care plants come in a number of varieties.

Firstly they are not always red, the tall flower spikes from red through to yellow rising above the foliage. These plants add height make a dramatic addition to the garden. Plants are readily available for sale online.

Kniphofia ‘Winter Cheer’ makes a stunning display during the cold months with its bright red flower heads, ‘Orange Queen’ has softer orange flowers. The softer variety ‘Lime Glow’ is a yellow form.

Species include: K. citrina, K. linearifolia, K. sarmentosa, K. thompsonii, and K. ‘Zululandiae’.

Care

These are a medium to tall growing perennial that can make a dramatic statement at the rear of the border or as a stand alone plant.

Kniphofia have flower spikes that reach to nearly 2m and a range of colors from bone white through to coral red.
They will flower from early summer to late summer depending on variety. All varieties do prefer full sun and a moist but well drained soil, once established they are relatively drought tolerant.

You prune the foliage back to around ground level in late autumn to late winter, this will tidy the plant up. The fresh new foliage in spring looks better than the old foliage.

Propagation

Easiest by division of established clumps. The best time to divide Kniphofia is in in autumn or spring. Lift the clump if possible with a garden fork. Use a sharp spade to to divide the clump and then replant.

After replanting, water in with a liquid seaweed fertiliser.

You can also propagate from seed. Seeds are best planted in autumn in a specialist seed raising mix. They should germinate in around 3 – 4 weeks and be ready for potting up abount 6 months after germination. Seeds usually do not come true to colour.

Varieties

• K. ‘Red Hot’ has deep coral red flowers.
• K. ‘Winter Cheer” has large deep red pokers and is tall growing,
• K. ‘Ice Queen’ has very pale pokers, green tipped lemon to white and a great contrast to other varieties.
• K. ‘Ernest Mitchell’ has clear lemon-green flowers.
• K. ‘Lollipop’ has a flower head shaped like a ball on a stick.
• K. northiae has very large decorative foliage.

Kniphofia or Red Hot Pokers are available for sale from the following nurseries

Red Hot Poker Plants For Sale Australia Coast

Red Hot Poker Plants For Sale Australian

Red Hot Poker Plants For Sale Australia Dollars

Red Hot Poker Plants For Sale Australia Fires