red hot poker
Kniphofia rooperi
RHS AGM 2004
USDA zones6 to 9
SunNeeds full sun (6+ hours)
WaterHandles moderate to moist soil
Size3 to 4 feet tall12 to 24 inches wide
- Bloom season
- Summer, autumn
- Soil types
- Sand, loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Red hot poker (Kniphofia rooperi) is a perennial for borders and containers. 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. It blooms in early to late summer and again in early to late autumn, and butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and birds visit the flowers. It is not a favorite of deer or rabbits, though hungry ones will eat almost anything. The plant stays evergreen and tolerates drought and salt.
Pairs well with Buffalo grass, Mountain mint, and Boxwood.
Native range
Africa, Free State, and Lesotho.