Buy Red Hot Poker Plant Uk
A fine architectural plant with striking verticalblooms, topped by blazing red, orange and yellowtapering flower heads, that really do resemble fieryhot pokers. Kniphofia are tough, long-livedplants, with a long flowering season (spring tolate autumn).
Also known as Tritoma, Red hot poker, Torch lily or Poker plants. Kniphofias are majestic plants for the border where they create a focal point due to their immaculate flowers and vivid orange colour. Over the years, the plant will grow into a large clump with many flowers.
Family: Asphodelaceae
Botanical Name: Kniphofia
Common Names: red-hot poker, torchlily
Foliage: Perennial evergreen. Mid-greenstrap-like leaves.
Flowers: Tall striking flower spikesthat appear above the foliage on thick stems. The denselypacked, pendent, tubular flower heads range in colour from yellow to orange, pink and bright red (dependingon variety).
Flowering Period: April to October.
Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drainedsoil. Best in sand or loam. Acid or neutral pH.
Conditions: Full sun. South or west facingaspect. Exposed or sheltered position.
Habit: Tufted.
Type: Herbaceous perennial.
Origin: Southern and eastern Africaand Madagascar.
Hardiness: Hardy to half-hardy inthe UK.
Red hot pokers are grown for their distinctive, usually tall, upright flowers or ‘pokers’. Kniphofia ‘Atlanta’ has ‘pokers’ that are made up of small orange-red flowers at the top of the ‘poker’ and creamy-yellow flowers at the base. The ‘pokers’ are produced in early summer and are also attractive to bees. Commonly known as Red hot poker, Torch lily, Tritoma Expanding range of showy pokers for growing in nature-friendly clumps. Many hybrids have been toned down over time from the original 'red hot pokers' and now come in shades of red, orange, yellow, and greenish white.
Planting and Growing Kniphofia
Plant in early autumn or spring. Best grown ina well-drained, but not over rich soil. Choose an open sunny situation for best flowers.
Easy to grow given the right conditions. No stakingrequired. Excellent for city and coastal gardens. Idealfor borders, pots and containers. Dwarf forms are availablefor the rockery.
The tall stiff stems are loved by flower arrangers.
Taking Care of Kniphofia
Water container-grown plants regularly over thesummer. Protect more tender species with fleeceduring cold periods. Apply a light fertilizer in springor early summer.
Pruning Kniphofia
Deadhead after flowering. Leave the old foliageon the plant to protect the crown over winter. Tidyplants in spring by pulling away dead and damaged leavesa the base.
Pests and Diseases
Generally disease free. Can be damaged by slugsand snails. Regularly checkfor these pests hiding in amongst the leaves.
Propagating Kniphofia
Easily propagated by division in the spring or bytaking offshoots from the crown.
Seed can be sown inlate winter under glass. Grow-on in a cold frame andplant out the following spring (Note: namedcultivars will not come true from seed).
Kniphofia uvaria |
Popular Varieties of Kniphofia Grown in the UK
There is an extensive range of Pokers available,ranging from tall to medium and dwarf height. Not allkniphofia flowers are red however, there is a wideselection of named varieties that provide a floweringseason from April to October,in colours varying from white through all the shadesof yellow, red and orange.
K. caulescens (S. Africa) is oneof the most striking species with evergreen longgrey leaves and pinkish-red flower spikes that fadeto cream. This is the only fully hardy kniphofia inthe UK. Height 4ft (1.2m), spread 2ft (60cm).
K. galpinii has drooping, red orangeflame coloured spikes. Height 3ft (1m), spread 1ft(30cm).
K. galpinii Bressingham Torchflame red ageing to orange yellow. Height to 3ft (90cm).
K. citrina has light yellow flowersthat appear in late summer. Height3ft (1m), spread 1ft (30cm).
K. northiae a good variety forits foliage, the agave-like leaves provide an exoticfeel. Hardy. Height up to 70in (170cm).
K. rooperi – unusual rounded flowersin orange, red and yellow. Blooms from September inthe UK. Height from 2 to 5ft (60-155cm).
K. triangularis has flame-colouredflowers in late summer. Height 2ft (60cm), spread 1ft(30cm).
K. thomsonii var. thomsonii 'Stern's Trip' hasdelicate, widely-spaced vertical flowers in red andorange that become brighter in colour as they open.Not fully hardy in UK. Height3 to 4ft (90-120cm).
K. uvaria has various forms thatcan grow up to 5ft (1.5m), in a range of bold colours.One of the most commonly grown and hardiest red-hot poker species.
K. uvaria ‘Nobilis’ (syns. 'Grandiflora','Maxima') is taller and earlier flowering, with deeporange flowers.
K. ‘Alcazar’ bears bright red flowers.Height to 5ft (1.5m).
K. ‘Bees' Sunset’ - soft orangeflower heads that fade to yellow on colourful bronzestems. Height to 4.5ft (130cm).
K. 'Bees' Lemon' has heavy spikes of luminous lemon yellow (August toSeptember) Height to 4ft (120cm).
K. ‘Border Ballet’ is in variousshades from cream to pink. Height to 2ft (60cm).
K. ‘Brimstone’ has green buds thatopen to yellow flowers (late flowering). Height to2ft (60cm).
K. ‘Buttercup’ has green buds which open intoyellow flowers (early flowering). Height to 3 ft (1m).
K. ‘Early Buttercup’ has large spikes of brightyellow flowers (early flowering). Height to 3 ft (1m).
K. ‘Fiery Fred’ blazing orange-red flowers. Height to 3ft (1m).
K. ‘Green Jade’ bears cool greenflowers. Height to 3 ft (1m).
K. ‘Ice Queen’ has cream flowers tinged with green.Height to 3 ft (1m).
K. ‘Jenny Bloom’ has cream and coral-pink flowers(late flowering). Height to 3 ft (1m).
K. ‘Little Maid’ has ivory flower spikes tipped with yellow. Dwarfvariety, reaching only 22in (55cm).
K. ‘Percy’s Pride’ has green and yellow flowers. Height to 2ft 8in (80cm).
K. ‘Samuel’s Sensation’ bears longspikes yellow flowers that change to red at thetips (late flowering). Height to 5ft (1.5m).
K. 'Sceptre’ has bright yellowflower spikes. Height to 3ft (1m).
K. 'Strawberries and Cream' pale yellow and rich pink. Height to 1.5ft (45cm).
K. ‘Sunningdale Yellow’ bears yellowflowers (long flowering period. Height to 2.5ft (75cm).
K. ‘Toffee Nosed' has cream flowerstipped with brown. Height to 3 ft (1m)
K. ‘Yellow Hammer’ has pure yellowflowers. Height to 2 ft (60cm).
K. ‘Tawny King’ an unusual varietywith bronze stems and tallflower spikes that change fromdeep orange though apricot to creamy white. Height3-4ft (90-130cm)
Red Hot Poker
Kniphofia 'Atlanta'
Common Name: Red Hot Poker
Genus:Kniphofia
Cultivar: 'Atlanta'
Named after Johan Hieronymus Kniphof, a German Professor of Medicine.
Category: Perennials
Growth Rate: Average
Features: Good for wildlife
| Hardiness: Hardy | Height: 1.30 m (130 cm) |
| Sun/Shade: Full sun or Partial shade | Spread: 1.00 m (100 cm) |
| Foliage Type: Evergreen | Flower Colour: Cream, Red, Orange, Yellow |
| Foliage Colour: Green | Flowering Period: July & August |
Soil Type: Normal/Loam
Soil Moisture: Moist, but well drained
Red Hot Poker Plant Uk
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