• Photo of Kniphofia uvaria (Kniphofia uvarias)

Plant Profile: Kniphofia uvaria

Taxonomy: Kniphofia uvaria

Names

Red Hot Poker

  • Photo of Kniphofia uvaria (Kniphofia uvarias)

Phonetic Spelling:ny-FOH-fee-uh oo-VAIR-ee-uh

Genus:Kniphofia

Species:uvaria

Family:Asphodelaceae

There are hybrid varieties of Red hot poker that showcase flowering spikes in shades of pale yellow, ivory, apricot, orange, and red, blooming during the summer months. Each variety features long, sword-shaped basal leaves and tall, erect flowering spikes. The blooming process occurs from the bottom of the spike upward, with the vibrant orange flowers gradually fading to a yellowish-green hue as they age. This creates a striking two-toned effect, with bright orange flowers at the top and yellowish ones beneath. Additionally, this plant is resilient against deer damage and exhibits a degree of salt tolerance. For propagation, you can either sow seeds or divide the plants in the spring.

Kniphofia uvaria Feature Summary

Kniphofia uvaria Image Gallery

Tags

#hummingbirds
#red
#yellow
#full sun tolerant
#perennial
#salt tolerant
#well-drained soil
#summer flowers
#deer resistant
#summer bulbs
#pollinator plant
#butterfly friendly
#HS302

Similar Plants

Kniphofia uvaria is often confused with:

Kniphofia uvaria Feature Summary

Attributes
South West & South Cape Province
Perennial
Bulb
Flowers
Flowering spikes of pale yellow, ivory, apricot, orange and red. It flowers from the bottom upward, and the bright orange flowers fade to yellowish green as they senesce, resulting in a two toned spike with orange flowers at the top and yellowish ones below.
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Green
Orange
Cream/Tan
Leaves
Long, sword-like, basal
Linear
Lanceolate
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Landscape
Butterflies
Pollinators
Hummingbirds

Kniphofia uvaria Attributes

Kniphofia uvaria: Country Or Region Of Origin

South West & South Cape Province

Kniphofia uvaria: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Kniphofia uvaria: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Kniphofia uvaria Flowers

Kniphofia uvaria: Flower Description

Flowering spikes of pale yellow, ivory, apricot, orange and red. It flowers from the bottom upward, and the bright orange flowers fade to yellowish green as they senesce, resulting in a two toned spike with orange flowers at the top and yellowish ones below.

Kniphofia uvaria: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Cream/Tan
filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Green
filter_vintage
Orange
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy

Kniphofia uvaria: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Kniphofia uvaria: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Kniphofia uvaria: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Kniphofia uvaria: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Kniphofia uvaria Leaves

Kniphofia uvaria: Leaf Description

Long, sword-like, basal

Kniphofia uvaria: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Kniphofia uvaria: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Kniphofia uvaria: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Kniphofia uvaria: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Kniphofia uvaria: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Kniphofia uvaria Whole Plant Traits

Kniphofia uvaria: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Kniphofia uvaria: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Kniphofia uvaria Cultural Conditions

Kniphofia uvaria: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Kniphofia uvaria: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Kniphofia uvaria: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Kniphofia uvaria: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Kniphofia uvaria Stem

Kniphofia uvaria: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Kniphofia uvaria Landscape

Kniphofia uvaria: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Kniphofia uvaria: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees