red hot poker
Kniphofia caulescens
USDA zones6 to 8
SunNeeds full sun (6+ hours)
WaterHandles moderate to moist soil
Size2 to 4 feet tall12 to 24 inches wide
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Bloom color
- Coral red to yellow
- Soil types
- Sand, loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Red hot poker (Kniphofia caulescens) is a perennial for borders and low-maintenance gardens. 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. Deer and rabbits rarely make it their first choice. Blue-grey evergreen leaves sit on a short woody trunk, so it works as a focal point. Coral buds open soft yellow, and butterflies and hummingbirds visit the blooms.
Pairs well with Fountain grass, Chaste tree, and Greig's tulip.
Native range
Southern Africa.