Red hot poker
Kniphofia uvaria · Asphodelaceae
📷 yakovlev.alexey from Moscow, Russia · CC BY-SA 2.0
The gardener's calendar
Red hot poker is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Common name
- Red Hot Poker
- Family
- Asphodelaceae
- Plant type
- Perennial herbaceous
- Adult height
- 120 cm
- Foliage
- Persistent, linear and arched
- Flowering
- June to September
- Hardiness
- Down to -10 °C depending on varieties
- Origin
- South Africa
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Kniphofia demands intense sun and well-draining soil, moderately moist (MEDIUM is just right). Once established (year 2), reduce watering: it tolerates summer drought well and it's usually excess water that weakens it.
The common mistake
People drown the base which rots in autumn-winter; Kniphofia dies much more often from too much water than from drought.
The pro's trick
Divide the clump every 4-5 years in spring (March-April): young divisions flower immediately and much more generously.
Seasonal watch
Wet autumn: ensure perfect drainage and mulch moderately (5 cm) around the crown, no more: it needs to breathe.
Care
Sunlight
Place your Kniphofia in full sun for abundant flowering and intense colors. A minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight is necessary. In shade, flowering becomes sparse and the plant becomes leggy.
Watering
Water regularly during growth and flowering, keeping the soil moist but well-drained. Reduce watering in winter. Avoid excess moisture which promotes root rot.
Soil
Choose well-drained soil, even poor or sandy. Kniphofia tolerates slightly acidic to neutral soils. Adding compost at planting time is generally sufficient.
Fertilizer
Apply balanced fertilizer in spring to stimulate flowering. Avoid excess nitrogen which promotes foliage at the expense of flowers. A single application at the start of the season is generally sufficient.
Pruning and maintenance
Remove spent flowers to extend flowering. In late winter, eliminate dead or damaged foliage. Lightly cut back the clump if it becomes too dense, without touching the vital center.
Diseases and pests
Kniphofia is generally robust. Watch for root rot in case of excessive moisture. Aphids can sometimes colonize the flower spikes: vigorous watering is enough to eliminate them.
Did you know?
Kniphofia gets its nickname 'Red Hot Poker' from its flamboyant flower spikes with incandescent red-orange hues, evoking glowing embers. This spectacular plant, native to the South African highlands, has become a symbol of temperate gardens thanks to its hardiness and prolonged brilliance throughout summer.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.