Kniphofia

( nip - HOH - fee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly referred to as Red-Hot Poker and Torch Lily, this interesting flowering perennial needs full sun to partial shade and moderate to regular water. The bright flowers will attract pollinators such as hummingbirds to your yard. Each inflorescence is comprised of tubular overlapping flowers grouped into clusters. Foliage is somewhat grass-like. Blooms will open from the bottom of the spike to the top and will change color as they mature. Plants vary in size, shape, and flower colors. Grow Kniphofia in mixed beds and borders, in pots, or simply as eye-catching specimens in the landscape.

Kniphofia Species and Varietals

The genus Kniphofia includes 73 species and is a member of the plant family Asphodelaceae. Torch Lily growing zones vary depending on the species. See the descriptions below for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Kniphofia galpinii (Galpin Red-Hot Poker)
This species grows best in zones 3-9 and 14-24 and is native to South Africa. It reaches 2-3 feet tall and wide, and has narrow, grassy leaves. Flowers are red at the tip and fade to orange at the base and bloom in early summer to fall.
Kniphofia spp. Hybrids and Cultivars
Most of these plants grow in zones 2-9 and 14-24, though this varies somewhat. Flowers will bloom in summertime.
'Alcazar'
'Backdraft'
'Barton Fever'
'Bees' Lemon'
'Bees' Sunset'
'Border Ballet'
'Bressingham Comet'
'Brimstone'
'Butter Brickle'
'Buttercup'
'Christmas Cheer'
'Citron'
'Cobra'
'Coral Flame'
'Daybreak'
'Elvira'
'Fiery Fred'
'Fire Dance'
'Flamenco'
'Flashpoint'
'Gladness'
'Green Jade'
'H. E. Beale'
'High Roller'
'Incandesce'
'Innocence'
'Joker's Wild'
'Jonathan'
'Lemon Popsicle'
'Little Maid'
'Mango Popsicle'
'Minister Verschuur'
'Moonstone'
'Nancy's Red'
'Nobilis'
'Orange Blaze'
'Orange Vanilla Popsicle'
'Papaya Popsicle'
'Peachy Cheeks'
'Percy's Pride'
'Pineapple Popsicle'
'Primrose Beauty'
'Primrose Upward'
'Prince Igor'
'Redhot Popsicle'
'Rich Echoes'
'Rocket Jr.'
'Royal Standard'
'Safranvogel'
'Samuel's Sensation'
'Scorched Corn'
'Shining Scepter'
'Sunningdale Yellow'
'Tawny King'
'Timothy'
'Toffee Nosed'

Kniphofia northiae (Giant Red Hot Poker)
This species grows in zones 4-9 and 14-24, and is a large species that forms a 1-3 foot high trunk that sprouts bluish green leaves in a single rosette, similar to Aloe spp. This species does not form clumps as others tend to do. Flower stems are 1-2 feet taller than the foliage, and hold orange buds that open to a light yellow color.

Kniphofia x praecox (Kniphofia praecox) (Greater Red-Hot Poker)
This hybrid is a cross between Kniphofia uvaria and Kniphofia bruceae, and forms a clump of narrow grass-like foliage. Flowers bloom atop upright long flower stems that reach up to 5 feet tall. Flowers start off scarlet red, transitioning to reddish-orange and then yellow as they mature. 

Kniphofia rooperi (Rooper's Red-Hot Poker)
This South African native grows best in zones 4-9 and 14-24, and reaches 4 about feet tall and wide. Leaves are evergreen in mild regions. Flower cluster is egg-shaped and is yellow at the bottom fading to orange at the top. Flowers bloom in wintertime.

​Kniphofia thomsonii (Thompson's Red-Hot Poker)
This is an alpine species native to East Africa that grows best in zones 6-9 and 14-24. It forms clumps 3-5 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide, and has narrow blue-green leaves. Blooms are orange. Variety 'Triploid Form' reaches 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide with orange-red blooms, and 'Stern's Trip' is also a great garden cultivar.

​Kniphofia triangularis (Dwarf Red Hot Poker)
This South African native is best when grown in zones 3-9 and 14-24 and reaches 2 feet tall with grass-like foliage. Flowers are coral and flared at the tips and bloom in midsummer through fall. Similar in looks to Kniphofia galpinii.

​Kniphofia uvaria (Tritomea, Torch Lily, Red Hot Poker)
This species grows in zones 2-9 and 14-24 and its flower stems reach 3-3.5 feet in height. Flower buds are coral red and open to reveal orange or deep yellow flowers in summer. Blooms will appear later in the year in cool-winter climates. Many varieties sold under this name are hybrids.

Caring for Kniphofia

Grow Kniphofia, or Red Hot Poker Plant, in full sun. Ideally, these plants bloom and grow best when they receive between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day. In the warmest climates, they may appreciate some late afternoon shade during the warmest times of the day. They require soil that is well-draining and moderately fertile with a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to slightly alkaline). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Water newly planted Kniphofias regularly to help them develop strong root systems. At maturity, these plants also appreciate regular waterings, especially during their blooming and active growing periods in spring and summertime. They do not do well in drought, and in summer they can even tolerate boggy conditions.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with a application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. In cooler-winter areas, leave foliage on the plant so that it can protect the roots and new growth when it pops up. Leave clumps in place for a few years before dividing, which is best done in springtime. If the species is still blooming in spring, wait until summer to divide clumps. For information on how to divide Kniphofia plants, see the Propagation section below.

Propagation

Kniphofia, or Red Hot Poker plants, can be propagated either by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Kniphofia, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Kniphofia by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Kniphofia by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
  1. Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
  2. Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
  3. Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
  4. Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.
Kniphofia flower inflorescences hold the seeds for the next generation of plants.
Kniphofia seeds are small, irregularly shaped, and dark brown.

Problems and Pests

Kniphofia, or Red Hot Poker plants, are susceptible to developing issues with the following:
  • Slugs and Snails
For more information on these pests, including how to manage them, consult the following pages:
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Gallery

These plants grow from basal tufts of foliage, and produce upright spikes of very brightly colored tubular flowers.
Peach Yarrow interplanted with Kniphofia creates a bed filled with warm colors.
Yellow-flowering Kniphofia is surrounded by Russian Sage, Sea Holly, and Coreopsis.
Here, Kniphofia is planted alongside Yarrow and Phlox.
Kniphofia planted amongst Globe Thistle.
This Ethiopian Wolf is considered a pollinator of Kniphofia.

Videos

Check out this short video about Kniphofia.
How to plant Kniphofia in the garden.
How to plant Kniphofia rhizomes.
Check out Kniphofia in the Dallas Arboretum.
Learn how to propagate these plants.

Resources

How to Grow Red Hot Pokers
How to Grow and Care for Red Hot Poker Plants
Wikipedia: Kniphofia 
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 393 - 394, Kniphofia
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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