Kniphofia hybrids

Red-Hot Poker, Torch Lily

Perennials, Flowers

KNIPHOFIA

Dense clumps of grasslike, finely toothed foliage produce bare stems topped by nodding, tubular flowers in tight, overlapping clusters. Flowering stems look like glowing pokers or torches, hence the common name. Blossoms open from bottom to top over the course of several days, changing color as they mature. Increasing numbers of species—mostly from South Africa—are now grown in gardens and hybridized. The old 3-ft.-high forms of Kniphofia uvaria in shades of coral orange and yellow have given way to kinds with blooms ranging from coral red through every conceivable shade of orange, peach, and yellow to near-white and light green, on plants varying in size from 1 1/2- ft. dwarfs to 6-ft. giants. The flowers attract hummingbirds.

Kniphofia hybrids

Although these hybrids involve several species, they generally share the narrow leaves and summer bloom season of K. uvaria. A distinct departure is ‘Christmas Cheer’, a hybrid of vigorous species K. rooperi.

‘Alcazar’. Dark, bronzy stems to 3 1/2 ft., with brick red flowers that age to pinkish orange.

‘Border Ballet’. Buds are a soft, dusty coral pink opening to cream blooms. Stems reach 4–4 1/2 ft.

‘Bressingham Comet’. Stems to 2 ft. high; flower clusters areorange with a yellow base.

‘Christmas Cheer’. Zones 19–24. Brilliant orange buds opento deep gold flowers on 4–5-ft.stems. Blooms fall through late spring in mild-winter areas, fall until frost elsewhere. Give it room; leaves (to 5 ft. long and 2 in. wide) become lax and collapse on the ground, smothering any plants in their way. Clump increases rapidly to 6–8 ft. or more across. Divide in early summer after flowering stops.

‘Cobra’. Stems 3–4 ft. tall. Flower clusters are orange at the top, fading through peach to creamy white at the base.

Flamenco. Seed-grown strain that blooms first year in early autumn, in subsequent years in summer. Flower colors range from coral through orange and yellow to creamy white. Stems to 2 1/2 ft. high.

‘Little Maid’. Thin, grassyleaves and narrow flower stems to 2 ft. high. Creamy white blossoms open from buds in buff-tinted pale yellow.

‘Nancy’s Red’. Zones 4–9, 14–24. To 2 ft. high and wide, with semievergreen, grassy leaves that give rise to coral redflowers in early to midsummer.

‘Percy’s Pride’. To 4 ft. tall, with green-tinted yellow buds opening cream.

‘Primrose Beauty’. To 3 ft. high, with blossoms in clear light yellow.

‘Shining Scepter’. Plant sold in North America under thisname is 3 ft. high, with tangerine orange flowers; the English original is 4 ft. tall, with pale yellow buds opening ivory.

‘Toffee Nosed’. Stems to 2 ft.,with flower spikes that arecreamy white at the base andtawny orange at the top.