About
Kniphofia northiae, the giant red-hot poker, is a bold, evergreen perennial producing large rosettes of broad, smooth, strap-shaped leaves. Dense flower spikes have tightly packed florets opening reddish-orange, fading through yellow to greenish-cream. One of the most architecturally striking of all red-hot pokers for a large, sunny, well-drained border.
About the genus
Kniphofia, the red-hot pokers or torch lilies, may be evergreen or herbaceous perennials with linear or strap-shaped leaves and erect stems bearing a dense raceme of tubular, usually pendent flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, cream and green. Bold and ornamental plants for sunny, well-drained borders.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitTufted
FoliageEvergreen
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesArchitectural, Gravel garden, Coastal
Native toSouth Africa
Care notes
CultivationGrow in full sun and fertile, moist but well-drained soil that isn’t too wet over winter. See kniphofia cultivation for further advice
PruningCut down old flower stems after flowering; old or dead leaves can be tidied up or removed in mid-spring
PropagationPropagate by division of established clumps in late spring or by taking offshoots from the crown
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, thrips, slugs and snails
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free