Tritoma
– Kniphofia, Red-Hot-Poker, Torch Lily
Hardy Perennial.
Two to four feet.
Flowers red, yellow and orange, June to October.
A strong-growing perennial, for which “showy”
is certainly the fitting word.
It forms a strong
clump of strap-shaped leaves, from which rise
large spikes of orange-scarlet shaded to yellow,
on stout elastic stems.
It prefers a light loamy
soil, well drained and fully exposed to the sun.
in bleak positions some litter should be spread
over the crowns in winter.
The well-known older
type of “Red-Hot-Poker” is Tritoma (or
Kniphofia) uvaria or aloides, scarlet and yellow, flowering
in August.
Newer kinds are caulescens, large foliage
like a Yucca, flowers red and yellow; Saundersii,
four to five feet, large red and yellow spikes;
Tuckii, red and yellow, flowering in June, three
feet; coralline, two feet, July and August, flowers
coral-red.
The plants should have abundance of
water during the growing season; they may be planted
in herbaceous borders, but look best in large
groups.
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