Red Hot Poker
Kniphofia uvaria and hybrids
Red hot pokers form clumps of grassy leaves and send up tall spikes of tubular flowers that fade from red at the top to yellow below, like torches. They attract nectar-feeding birds and tolerate heat and wind.
Photo: Kniphofia_uvaria.jpg: Toby Hudson derivative work: 99of9 (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Moderate
Water regularly in summer; avoid wet soil in winter.
Soil
Well-drained, fertile soil; pH 6.0–7.5.
Temperature and humidity
-15–38 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed in spring with a balanced fertilizer.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by division, seed
Cut spent spikes to the base and tidy old leaves in spring.
Not known to be toxic.
Top Cultivation Tips
Tie leaves over the crown in wet, cold winters.
Good for coastal gardens.
Divide in spring every few years.
Compact hybrids suit smaller spaces.
