About
Kniphofia thomsonii var. thomsonii, Thomson's red-hot poker, is a perennial to 1.4 m, spreading by rhizomes and forming tufts of upright, linear, mid-green leaves to 60 cm long. A succession of conical, aloe-like, yellowish-orange flower spikes is produced from midsummer to autumn. A rewarding and long-flowering red-hot poker for a 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, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming, Tufted
FoliageDeciduous
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesArchitectural, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Mediterranean climate plants
Native toEthiopia, Kenya, Uganda, DRC
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 established clumps by division in late spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, thrips, slugs and snails
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free