Kniphofia rooperi

Sunset

Kniphofia ‘Bressingham Comet’

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Zones 4-9, 14-24

Full, Partial

Moderate

Kniphofia uvaria

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 rooperi, photo courtesy of Martin Hughes-Jones/Alamy

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Kniphofia rooperi

Native to South Africa’s eastern Cape. To 4 ft. tall and wide, with keeled green leavesthat remain evergreen only in mildest part of range. The inflorescence is more egg-shaped than spherical, yellow at the very bottom and orange above; blooms in winter.