giant red hot poker
Kniphofia northiae
RHS AGM 2006
USDA zones6 to 9
SunNeeds full sun (6+ hours)
WaterHandles moderate to moist soil
Size3 to 5 feet tall2 to 3 feet wide
- Bloom season
- Summer, autumn
- Soil types
- Sand, loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Giant red hot poker (Kniphofia northiae) is a perennial for borders. It is hardy to USDA zone 6, or down to -10°F (-23°C). This plant likes full sun and average to moist, sandy or loamy soil. Its tall flower spikes bloom in summer and again in autumn, and they draw butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and birds. It sits low on the menu for deer and rabbits. The leaves stay evergreen.
Pairs well with Butterfly bush, Perennial candytuft, and Buffalo grass.
Native range
Africa, Free State, and Lesotho.