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Grass Plant With Red & Yellow Plumes

Kniphofia uvaria, commonly known as red-hot poker, torch lily or tritoma, looks like grass, but is actually a rhizotamous perennial in the Lily family. Its boldly colored flowers not only create a striking focal point in the garden, but attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Red-hot poker is an underused and underappreciated plant that deserves a place in your garden.

  1. History

    • Red-hot pokers are native to Africa and are closely related to aloes. They were first brought to England in 1707, and were grown only in greenhouses until 1848. The genus contains 750 species and was named after Johannes Hieronymus Kniphof, 1704-1763, a medical professor at Germany's Erfurt University.

    Characteristics

    • Red-hot poker grows from 3 to 5 feet tall in clumps of grass-like arching leaves. The species plants have bright orange flowers that open from the bottom and fade to a yellowish-green, creating a brilliant two-toned spike. While some species are deciduous and sprout in early summer from their rhizotamous tuber, most species are evergreen.

    Flowers

    • The long-lasting flowers--which appear in June or July--are small, tubular and attractive to nectar-feeding birds such as sugarbirds and sunbirds. Some cultures use the flowers as food, and claim they taste like honey. They do well as cut flowers. Winter-flowering varieties bloom during the dry season in the tropics and subtropics.

    Medicinal Uses

    • Some species of Kniphofia are used in traditional medicine in Africa. K. parviflora is made into a snake repellent. A root infusion of K. rooperi and k. laxiflora is used medicinally to treat certain chest ailments. The powdered root has been used to help women in childbirth.

    Culture

    • Kniphofia requires rich, well drained soil in full or afternoon sun. It's tolerant of all but mucky soils, and should be planted in the spring or fall. Since clumps can reach diameters of more than 3 feet over time, provide plenty of space when planting. Hardy to USDA zones 5 to 10, most species are frost tolerant, but are injured below 14 degrees Fahrenheit. They are heat and drought tolerant. Red-hot poker should be fertilized monthly during the growing season with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer. They like to be watered regularly during the growing season, but don't like soggy soil. They can be propagated by seed or division done in early spring. Kniphofia doesn't like to be disturbed once established, and divisions may take a year to begin growing again.

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