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(Kniphofia uvaria ‘Red Hot Poker’)

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Red Hot Poker is a clump-forming perennial flower that is native to South Africa but can be commonly found growing throughout the west coast of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches 3-4' tall and features an 18-24” clump of sword-shaped bluish-green leaves, 3-4' flower scapes, and 6-10” red tubular flowers that turn yellow at maturity. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer, tolerates rabbits, and is drought tolerant.

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  • General Information
  • Germination
  • Seedlings
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Family: Asphodelaceae

Genus: Kniphofia

Species: Uvaria

Variety: Red Hot Poker

Native to: Cape Provinces.

Introduced into: Argentina Northeast, California, Great Britain, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southwest, Oregon, Spain, St. Helena, Turkey, Washington.

Also Known As: Torch Lily and Poker Plant.

Native Range: South Africa

Grown as: Perennial
 
Maturity (Blooms): May to June

Hardiness: Tender. Crowns benefit from winter protection in USDA Zones 5 and 6 (mulch or tie leaves together forming a canopy over the crown so as to prevent water from settling on the crown and freezing).

Light: Full sun.​

Water: Low to Medium.

Soil Moisture: Medium moisture, well-drained.

Suitability: Prefers rich, humusy soils. Intolerant of wet, heavy soils. Locate in areas protected from wind. Resistant to deer and also tolerates drought and rabbits.
​
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Attracts bees, butterflies, and Hummingbirds.

Containers?: No.

Maintenance: Medium.

Height: 36-48”
 
Spacing: 18-24”

Sow Depth: On soil surface
 
USDA Zone: 5-9

Produces: a 18-24” clump of sword-shaped bluish-green leaves, 3-4' flower scapes, and 6-10” red tubular flowers that turn yellow at maturity.​

Garden Uses: Specimen, small groups or mass in the perennial border. Great for small garden spaces.
Your seeds will need a cold-treatment 10-12 weeks before your last frost date. Simply moisten a paper towel until it is damp and wring out any excess moisture. Fold your paper towel in half and place your seeds on one half of it. Then Fold your paper towel in half again to secure the seeds in place. Now place your paper towel in a Ziploc bag and place in refrigerator for 4 weeks. After the cold-treatment, sow 3 seeds on the soil surface of pots which are several inches deep to preserve the taproot. Barely cover them with peat moss and leave them where temperatures are 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Gemination should occur within 21 to 28 days and you should allow your seedlings to grow indoors 6-8 weeks before planting them outdoors. 
Grow your seedlings in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils with a pH of 5.8 - 7.0 in full sun. Kniphofia Uvaria prefers a rich, humusy soil and is intolerant of wet, heavy soils. Plant your seedlings in a location that is protected from wind. 
While Red Hot Poker is drought resistant, during high temperatures you should water regularly.

In late fall, you will need to cut the foliage off your plant at the base and remove all the spent flower spikes.

The crowns of Red Hot Poker will need winter protection in USDA Zones 5 and 6. Add 2-3" of mulch over the crown to retain water during hot temps and to prevent water from settling and freezing on the crown at the end of fall. Be sure not to disturb any established clumps.
​When all the florets have fallen from the flower spike, cut off the entire stem. Allow the stem and pods to dry out before removing the pods from the stems. Allow the pods to dry for at least another 24 hours before you break them open to collect the seeds.

Companion Planting

Companions include: Artemisia, Asters, Baptisia, Cosmos, Dahlias. Gaillardia, Heliopsis, Lamb’s ear, Liatris, New Zealand Flax, Salvia, Yarrow.

Problems

​No significant insect or disease problems. Watch for root rot in poorly-drained soils. Thrips may appear in some areas.

Thrips

​Beneficial insects such as Big-eyed Bugs, Hoverflies, and Minute Pirate Bugs all prey on Thrips.
​Big-eyed Bugs: Prey on Aphids, small caterpillars and caterpillar eggs, fleahoppers, lygus bugs, mites, thrips, whiteflies. 

To attract Big-eyed Bugs to your garden you will need to grow: Caraway (Carum carvi), Cosmos “white sensation” (Cosmos bipinnatus), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Spearmint (Mentha spicata), Peter Pan Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea), and Marigold “lemon gem” (Tagetes tenuifolia). 
​
Hoverflies: Preys on Aphids, Scale insects, Caterpillars, and Thrips.


To attract Hoverflies to your garden you will need to grow: Fern-leaf yarrow (Achillea filipendulina), Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Carpet bugleweed (Ajuga reptans),  Lavender globe lily (Allium tanguticum), Basket of Gold (Alyssum saxatilis), Dill (Anethum graveolens), Golden Marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria), Dwarf alpine aster (Aster alpinus), Masterwort (Astrantia major), Four-wing saltbush (Atriplex canescens), Purple poppy mallow (Callirhoe involucrata), Caraway (Carum carvi), Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium), Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), Cosmos white sensation (Cosmos bipinnatus), Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota), Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum CA), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Poached egg plant (Limnanthes douglasii), Statice (Limonium latifolium), Butter and eggs (Linaria vulgaris), Edging lobelia (Lobelia erinus), Sweet alyssum white (Lobularia maritima), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), Spearmint (Mentha spicata), Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Rocky Mountain penstemon (Penstemon strictus), Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), Sulfur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta ‘warrenii’), Alpine cinquefoil (Potentilla villosa), Gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia fulgida), Orange stonecrop (Sedum kamtschaticum), Stonecrops (Sedum spurium), Peter Pan goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea), Wood betony (Stachys officinalis), Marigold “lemon gem” (Tagetes tenuifolia), Crimson thyme (Thymus serpylum coccineus), Spike speedwell (Veronica spicata), Zinnia "liliput" (Zinnia elegans).

Minute Pirate Bugs: Prey on Spider Mites, Cabbage Looper, Insect Eggs, Caterpillars, Aphids, and Thrips.

To attract Minute Pirate Bugs to your garden you will need to grow:  Caraway (Carum carvi), Cosmos “white sensation” (Cosmos bipinnatus), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Spearmint (Mentha spicata), Peter Pan Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea), and Marigold “lemon gem” (Tagetes tenuifolia).

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(Callistephus chinensis ‘Tall Pompon Blue Moon’)

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  • Store
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    • Our Flower Seeds >
      • Alyssum, Sweet
      • Baby's Breath
      • Balsam
      • Bee Plant
      • Bergamot
      • Billy Buttons
      • Black-Eyed Susan
      • Blanket Flower
      • Blazing Star
      • Boneset
      • Burning Bush
      • Calendula
      • Camass
      • Canterbury Bells
      • Cardinal Flower
      • Castor Bean
      • Catchfly
      • Celosia
      • China Asters
      • Chinese Houses
      • Clarkia
      • Clover
      • Coleus
      • Columbine
      • Compass Plant
      • Coneflower
      • Coral Bells
      • Cornflower
      • Cosmos
      • Dahlia
      • Daisy
      • Dame's Rocket
      • Dusty Miller
      • False Goats Beard
      • Four O'Clocks
      • Foxglove
      • Gas Plant
      • Gazania
      • Gilia
      • Hibiscus
      • Hollyhock
      • Ice Plant
      • Iris
      • Irish Moss
      • Joe Pye Weed
      • Lacy Phacelia
      • Lamb's Ear
      • Larkspur
      • Lupine
      • Marigold
      • Milkweed
      • Moonwort
      • Morning Glory
      • Moss Rose
      • Nasturtiums
      • Nemophila
      • Obedient Plant
      • Pansy
      • Penstemon
      • Petunia
      • Pheasant's Eye
      • Pink Nodding Onion
      • Poached Egg Plant
      • Polka Dot Plant
      • Poppy
      • Poppy Mallow
      • Purple Rock Cress
      • Queen of the Prairie
      • Red Hot Poker
      • Rose of Heaven
      • Sedum
      • Snapdragon
      • Spider Plant
      • Spiderwort
      • Strawflower
      • Sunflower
      • Sweet Williams
      • Tobacco
      • Winged Everlasting
      • Zinnia
    • Our Fruits Seeds >
      • Strawberries
    • Our Herb Seeds >
      • Angelica
      • Anise
      • Balm: Lemon
      • Basil
      • Bee Balm
      • Borage
      • Caraway
      • Catnip
      • Chamomile
      • Chervil
      • Chia
      • Chives
      • Coriander
      • Cress
      • Cumin
      • Dill
      • Fennel
      • Fenugreek
      • Heal All
      • Hyssop
      • Lavender
      • Lemongrass
      • Lovage
      • Marjoram
      • Mint
      • Monkshood
      • Motherwort
      • Oregano
      • Peppercorn
      • Rosemary
      • Sage
      • Savory
      • Skullcap
      • Sorrel
      • St. John's Wort
      • Tarragon
      • Thyme
      • Toothache Plant
      • Valerian
      • Yarrow
    • Our Vegetable Seeds >
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      • Cauliflower
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      • Ground Cherry
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      • Leeks
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      • Melons
      • Mustard
      • Okra
      • Onions
      • Parsley
      • Peas
      • Peppers
      • Pumpkin
      • Radish
      • Rhubarb
      • Salsify
      • Spinach
      • Squash
      • Swiss Chard
      • Tomatillo
      • Tomato
      • Turnips
  • Point System
  • Get More, Here's How
  • Contact Us