Red hot poker plants, also known as torch lilies or Kniphofia, are unique and eye-catching perennials that are native to South Africa. With their spiky, brightly colored blooms that resemble red-hot pokers or torches, it’s easy to see where these plants get their common names.
Growing red hot poker plants in your garden can add long-lasting color and interest. Here is a complete guide on how to grow and care for these striking plants
Overview of Red Hot Poker Plants
- Botanical Name: Kniphofia
- Common Names: Red hot poker, torch lily, torch flower, African flame flower, Devil’s poker
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Mature Size: 2 to 5 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide
- Bloom Time: Late spring through fall
- Flower Colors: Red, orange, yellow, cream, pink, white
- Sun Exposure: Full sun (minimum 6 hours daily)
- Soil Type: Well-draining soil
- Hardiness Zones: 5-9
- Native Area: South Africa
How to Plant Red Hot Poker
Location: Choose a site with full sun. Red hot pokers thrive in sites that receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Afternoon shade is tolerated in very hot climates.
Soil: Well-draining soil is crucial. These plants tolerate most soil types but will not thrive in heavy, soggy soil.
Spacing Space plants 15 to 2 feet apart depending on variety size. Larger types should be spaced further apart
Planting Depth: Plant red hot poker transplants with the crown no more than 3 inches below the soil surface.
When to Plant: Spring or fall is best. Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost.
Growing and Caring for Red Hot Poker Plants
Watering: Established plants need about 1 inch of water per week. Avoid overwatering.
Fertilizer: Apply a balanced organic fertilizer in spring if soil is nutrient deficient.
Light: Full sun is required for best growth and maximum flowers.
Soil: Well-draining soil is essential. Heavy, soggy soil can be fatal.
Hardiness: Red hot poker is hardy in zones 5-9. Use winter mulch in zones 5 and 6.
Pruning: Cut back flower stems after blooming and prune foliage to the ground in late fall or early spring.
Propagation: Divide established clumps in spring or start from seed indoors.
Pests: Generally pest-free. Thrips may sometimes be a problem.
Diseases: Crown rot due to soggy soil is the main disease issue.
Tips for Growing Red Hot Poker Plants
- Site red hot poker plants out of strong winds, which can damage the tall flower spikes
- Remove spent blooms promptly to encourage more flowers
- Lift and divide large clumps every 2-3 years in spring to rejuvenate the plants
- Mulch plants in winter in zones 5 and 6 to protect the crown from cold damage
- Avoid overwatering, especially in winter when crown rot is a concern
- Cut back foliage completely in late fall/early spring to keep plants tidy
How to Propagate Red Hot Poker Plants
Division: Divide clumps in early spring, taking care not to damage the crown. Replant divisions immediately.
Seed: Collect seeds when flower heads fade. Refrigerate seeds for one month. Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Requires bottom heat and constant 70-75°F soil temperature. Germination is erratic and can take many weeks.
When Does Red Hot Poker Bloom?
- Bloom season is late spring through fall, primarily June through October.
- Flowering starts in early summer and continues into fall with deadheading.
- Torch-like flower clusters sit atop tall, rigid flower stalks.
- Each flower spike lasts up to 18 days. New spikes continually emerge.
- Blooms are not fragrant.
How Do You Encourage Red Hot Poker to Bloom?
- Ensure plants receive full sun (minimum 6 hours daily)
- Plant in well-draining soil, avoid heavy soggy soil
- Water 1 inch per week during hot weather
- Fertilize in spring with a balanced organic fertilizer if needed
- Deadhead spent blooms to promote continued flowering
- Lift and divide large clumps every 2-3 years in early spring
- Cut back foliage to the ground in late fall/early spring
Common Problems With Red Hot Poker Plants
Yellow leaves: Insufficient sunlight. These plants need full sun.
Wilting: Overwatering. Allow soil to dry between waterings.
Not blooming: Lack of sun, heavy soil, buried too deep, or overcrowded. Divide, improve drainage, ensure 6+ hours of sun.
Crown rot: Soggy soil, especially in winter. Improve drainage.
Thrips: Can sometimes infest plants. Use insecticidal soap.
Growing Red Hot Poker Plants in Pots
- Choose a container at least 12-16 inches wide.
- Use a potting mix formulated for perennials.
- Ensure pot has drainage holes to prevent soggy soil.
- Site in full sun. Move container to a sheltered spot in winter.
- Water when soil surface is dry to the touch.
- Lift and divide plants when potbound.
With their vibrant torch-like blooms in sunset colors, red hot poker is an easy-care plant that brings long-lasting color to gardens and containers. Follow these tips for growing success with these exotic-looking beauties.
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Kniphofia – the complete guide
For unparalleled information on red-hot pokers, their species, cultivars and cultivation, see the first in our series of horticultural monographs, Kniphofia – the complete guide – see a preview below:
Kniphofias generally suffer from few pests and diseases – slugs and snails being the most frequent. It’s worth being vigilant as the flower spikes emerge as these are the most vulnerable parts of the plant. Root rots (including Fusarium and Phytophthera) can occasionally affect pokers. Symptoms initially resemble those of drought stress, including wilting and dull-coloured leaves. Once rot has spread to the crown of the plant, its leaves will pull away easily. Dig up and destroy affected plants, and do not replant in the same spot. To avoid root rots, always plant kniphofias in well-drained soil. Aphids can sometimes attack flowerheads – try to avoid using any form of insecticide as there is a risk of harming beneficial wildlife too. A gentle squirt with a hose should be enough to dislodge the pests.
Quick facts
Common name Red-hot poker Latin name Kniphofia Group Perennial Flowering time March to November Planting time March and April Height and spread 20-210cm (8in to 6½ft) and 20-100cm (8in to 3ft) Aspect Sun Hardiness Hardy to half-hardy Difficulty Easy
Red-hot pokers make rewarding and often long-lived garden plants. Their distinctively-shaped blooms are among the most spectacular of hardy flowers, and their long season means that by careful plant choice gardeners can enjoy them between spring and late autumn. Recent breeding work means there is a larger range and improved colours available to gardeners, with smaller habits and neater foliage. Colours range from red and orange through yellow to green and even brown and pink. Planting in borders and containers Kniphofias are generally easy to grow given the right conditions. For optimum performance choose a spot in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil that isn’t too wet over winter. Smaller, narrow-leaved cultivars such as ‘Bees Sunset’ are easier to combine with other plants than the larger sorts, and grow well in pots and containers.
To help keep your red-hot pokers healthy;
- Tidy plants in mid spring
- Water container-grown plants regularly over the summer
- Deadhead after flowering
Leave the plants alone until mid-spring as the old growth will protect the crown of the plant. Once the weather has begun to warm up, any dead or untidy-looking foliage can be pulled away – this will provide the opportunity to check for slugs and snails which can damage developing flowerheads and young growth. Rosettes of more tender species can be protected with fleece duing cold periods in winter.
Although some modern seed mixes have been developed that will flower from seed in their first year, for the sake of speed pokers are generally purchased as pot-grown plants. They can easily be propagated by division in spring – this is the only way to increase named cultivars as they do not come true from seed.
Heights given are the flowering spikes, which are always taller than the foliage. ‘Bees Sunset’ AGM (syn. ‘Shining Sceptre’) – incredibly colourful poker with orange flowerheads that fade to yellow as they age, borne on handsome bronze stems. Height 70-130cm Kniphofia caulescens – one of the most striking species with beautiful, glaucous grey leaves and coral pink to orange red buds that open to creamy-yellow flowers. Used to great effect in the Dry Garden at Hyde Hall. Height to 90cm (3ft) ‘Elvira’ – this cultivar has the useful attribute of producing sterile flowers, so they don’t turn brown before they fall off, giving it a much ‘cleaner’ look than some of the others. Flowers are pure orange and continue from July until the first frosts. Height 60-100cm (2-3ft) K. northiae AGM – the best poker for foliage – its agave-like rosettes lend an exotic touch. Much hardier than it looks. Height up to 170cm (70in) K. rooperi AGM – unmistakable round flowerheads of orange, red and yellow. Although it blooms in winter in its native habitat, forms in cultivation including ‘Maxima Globosa’ flower in September and October in the northern hemisphere – making them valuable in the autumn garden. Height 60-155cm (2-5ft). ‘Tawny King’ – chosen by Christopher Whitehouse, author of Kniphofia – the complete guide, as his favourite cultivated poker. Tall and dramatic with bronze stems and flowers that change from dark, smouldering orange though apricot to creamy white. Unusual and remarkable. Height 90-130cm (3-4ft) K. thomsonii var. thomsonii Sterns Trip AGM – an unusual poker with delicate, widely-spaced flowers. These start dark red-orange and become brighter in colour as they open. Not reliably hardy outdoors in the UK, except in mild areas. Height 90-140cm. (3-4½ft)
How to plant and grow red hot poker | Kniphofia
FAQ
Where is the best place to plant red hot poker?
They have a preference for full sun, although they can tolerate some light shade, especially in hot climates. If you want to grow red hot poker for flowers, you can plant them in spring. They grow best in moist but well-draining soils, but once established they can tolerate many types of soils.
How to keep red hot pokers blooming?
Deadhead spent flowers to encourage rebloom. If plants are not blooming well, it may be due to a number of factors, including too much shade, lack of nutrients, being planted too deeply, or that plants need dividing. Red hot poker bulbs should be divided every few years.
Do red hot poker plants come back every year?
Red hot poker is a perennial plant and will come back every year in zones 5-9, but it may require additional care in the winter in colder zones.
Does red hot poker plant spread?
Red Hot Poker is a rhizomatous plant, spreading in clumps from rhizomes beneath the soil. For this reason, you can plant individual plants 2-3 feet apart, giving them plenty of space to grow without encroaching on others.
How do you propagate a red hot poker plant?
Red hot poker plants can be propagated by division or seeds. Here’s how to propagate by division: Divide in spring to minimize overcrowding. Remove offsets from the perimeter of clumps rather than dividing clumps down the middle. Division can damage the plant’s bloom cycle, especially with mature clumps.
How do you grow red hot poker?
How to plant: Kniphofia has dense rhizomatous roots and a clumping habit, and is most often grown from divisions and potted plants. Red hot poker prefers a site with full sun and well-draining soil. When growing red hot poker, plant in spring when all danger of frost is past.
What are red hot poker plants?
Red hot poker plants, also known as Kniphofia or torch lilies, are a popular and striking perennial that can add a burst of color to any garden. These plants are native to Africa and are named for their tall, spiky flowers that resemble a fiery poker. They come in a range of colors, from bright red and orange to yellow and green.
How do I choose a red hot poker plant?
Red Hot Poker plants look their best when grown in clumps, and display lots of blooms. Importantly, check the height of the variety you purchase, to determine where it best fits in your mixed flower garden. We also suggest they are placed for easy viewing, so you won’t miss the Hummingbirds when they visit!
Can you grow red hot poker from seeds?
Perennial Red Hot Poker plants are grown from seeds. They can be directly seeded into your flower garden or started indoors for transplanting later. Sow Red Hot Poker seeds early in the season and cover lightly with 1/4″ of fine garden or potting soil. Due to the long germination time, make sure to clearly mark the planting site.
Why should you plant red hot poker plants?
Provide Water Sources: Small water features or shallow dishes can provide hydration for visiting pollinators. With proper sunlight, regular deadheading, and strategic garden placement, Red Hot Poker plants can bring both aesthetic and ecological benefits to your garden.