IN THIS GUIDE

Kniphofia , also known as ‘ Red Hot Poker ’ , are dramatic and exotic - looking plant that are amazingly well-fixed to grow in many UK gardens .

These plant life are well known and easily recognised because of their sensational bottlebrush - shaped flowering spires , which come in a wide range of fiery colours , not only orange and russets and Red , but also yellow , lime greens and more .

kniphofia with red and yellow flowers on long stems in front of various trees and shrubs

They have a long blossoming time of year and so can be a slap-up value improver to your garden .

Overview

PreferredFull Sun

ExposureExposed

Height0.5 – 1 molar concentration

red flowering kniphofia with long thick stems growing in front of red, green and purple shrubs

Spread0.1 – 0.5 M

Bloom TimeSummer / Autumn

PreferredLoam or sandpaper

kniphofia plants with orange and yellow flowers growing amongst long green grass in front of trees

MoistureMoist but well drained

pHAcidic or neutral

Kniphofia is a genus offlowering perennialsin the Asphodelaceae plant family.1Pokers ( Genus Kniphofia ) . ( n.d . ) . iNaturalist United Kingdom . Retrieved March 20 , 2023 , fromhttps://uk.inaturalist.org/taxa/56036-Kniphofia

close-up of the head of a red hot poker plant with red, orange and yellow bell-shaped flowers growing outside

They are aboriginal to Africa but are commonly grown in many gardens around the globe.2Kniphofia uvaria . ( n.d . ) . Missouri Botanical Gardens . Retrieved March 20 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=i310

As well as being mention to as blood-red red-hot pokers for their fiery efflorescence steeple , they are also sometimes referred to as ‘ poker plant ’ or ‘ great mullein lilies ’ .

Several species of Kniphofia are commonly cultivated in gardens , includingK. thomsonii , K. rooperi , K. northiaeandK galipinii , and there are also many other cultivars and hybrid .

red and yellow flowering poker plants growing in front of a blue sky

Commonly Grown Varieties

Some commonly grow and extremely regarded Kniphofia , which have receive Awards of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society , let in :

How To Grow Kniphofia

Kniphofia cultivars will not ordinarily come honest from seeds pull together from the flowers as some are sterile , so growing from come is not the recommended way of propagation.3Kniphofia – red - red-hot poker . ( n.d . ) . Royal Horticultural Society . Retrieved March 20 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/articles/misc/kniphofia

or else , existing plants can be propagated by partition , which is undertaken in the spring , which we ’ll talk about a niggling more subsequently in this guide .

Young Kniphofia plant are also wide available for sales event from garden centres and works nursery .

potted red hot poker plants growing in front of a wooden fence

The best sentence to set out cherry-red hot poker is in the spring .

precisely which month you plant will depend to an extent on where you be and the atmospheric condition to be feel there .

Planting a little later can be better in more northerly area , while planting a little in the beginning may be better in the due south .

kniphofia growing in the ground outside amongst other shrubs being watered

Red live pokers work well inmixed perennial bed or edge .

However , it is important to consider their environmental needs and to choose a planting localization carefully .

Red hot stove poker are H5 dauntless and will make it through the wintertime happily across most of the UK , even during highly harsh wintertime .

close-up of a kniphofia flower with a bee resting on its centre

This plant life can make out with temperatures down to at least -10 ° C over the wintertime months .

In summertime , it will call for some warmth to flower well , but can thrive even in exhibit locations .

Kniphofia should be grown in full sun .

dying red hot poker plant with some brown, decaying petals

Though they can cope with fond shade , florescence will be significantly reduced if the plant do n’t get full sun .

A south - facing look is ideal .

Red live pokers will absolutely love a sandy soil enriched with plenty of organic subject , but they will do well in any recondite , moist but well - drain soil which has an acidulent or inert pH.

red and yellow flowering kniphofias growing in front of purple shrubs in a garden bed

When planting in soils which are not in particular free draining , it can be beneficial to add a fistful of grit to the base of the planting hollow to help in drainage .

Kniphofia can also be grown in containers , but fear should be acquire to choose a container and growing culture medium which allows for sufficient wet retentivity while allowing supernumerary water to drain away freely .

Kniphofia Plant Care

When place in a position where it is comfortable , this is an easy plant to care for and should remain in your garden mirthfully over a number of years .

etymon rot is an issue which can unremarkably affect kniphofias when the conditions are not sufficiently gratis draining and where overwatering has come about .

To head off this , water modestly during prolonged teetotal trance , more often when raise in container .

However , verify that you do not overdo it and that supererogatory water should run out away freely .

These are not plant which will usually take additional feeding .

However , if growth or flowering is wretched when growing in containers , it may be beneficial to bring an constituent , balanced ,   slow - release fertiliser in leap .

Some protection against unreasonable winter moisture may be demand over the first match of growing seasons in arena where wintertime rain is high-pitched .

Some gardeners will prune back the flower heads after flowering , but it is good in a wildlife - well-disposed garden to depart these in place until springiness , to give wildlife habitat for winter trade protection .

leave the dead stems in place until around March can also provide a petty more protection against wintertime wet .

As bring up above , generation for named cultivars can not be achieved via sowing germ , but is achieved easily by means of the division of mature plants .

Division is guarantee in the saltation and will not only bring home the bacon newfangled plants to range elsewhere in your garden , but will also avoid matter with over-crowding as clumps become established .

Some protection may be need to protect the plant life against slugs and snail which munch on new growth in the leaping .

Excessive watering and water - logging are the most common issues and can lead to fungal root rot .

This is remedied by avoiding overwatering , guarantee good drainage , and protect plants from extreme winter wet .

Otherwise , these are comparatively hassle - free plants to grow .

Companion Planting

Red blistering salamander look rattling alongside other fiery - hue plants which like likewise cheery and moist yet loose - draining grow conditions , or alongsidepurple - hued plantsas they leave a striking line .

For instance , try placing red live pokersalongside Asters , Cosmos , Daylilies , Gaillardia , Helenium , Heliopsis , Liatris , Rudbeckia , or Salvias .

Ornamental grassescan also work very well alongside red hot pokers and other flowering perennials in a bed or mete .

“ Some of the specie , such asK. caulescens , have attractive leafage when not in flower , whilst others are messier , ” shares Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly .

“ Keep in mind what you want to combine your kniphofia with and consider what it will look like when not in flower .

“ All species and cultivars leave an exotic soupcon and vertical accent from mid - late summertime , which I make out . ”

References