RED-HOT
POKER
Family LILIACEAE
Kniphofia species
Perennial
This genus hails from South Africa, and is also
called Torch Lily and Red hot Poker.
The foliage is long and reed-like.
The flowers are borne on thick leaf-less stems,
funnel-shaped and in dense racemes of varied size.
Kniphofia aloides will attain a height of four feet,
bearing racemes six inches long of bright scarlet
flowers changing to yellow in the lower portions.
Kniphofia rufa is a smaller species, reaching one and
a half feet, with primrose yellow spikes tinged
red at the apex.
Kniphofia galpini is of two to three feet, with apricot-coloured
flowers.
Kniphofia nelsoni, two feet high, has bright scarlet
flower spikes, sometimes suffused orange.
Kniphofia erecta has scarlet flowers and is unique in
that its flower-tubes turn upwards.
Kniphofia corallina, two feet, has coral-red flowers.
Kniphofia praecox, three to seven feet, with red and
yellow flowers, blooms early.
Kniphofia tuckii, four and a half feet, scarlet and yellow.
A rich soil in full sun is essential and planting
is in April or May.
Propagate by division in spring or from seed.
The flowering season is in summer and early autumn.
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