Kniphofia rooperi

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Palustris, Sep 8, 2025.

  1. Palustris

    Palustris Total Gardener

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    Does anyone grow this?
    We have a large plant of it and it is getting very tatty. Can I cut back all the leaves to the stems, or do I have to spend hours pulling off just the ones which have died?
     
  2. Esoxlucius

    Esoxlucius Gardener

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    I have a kniphofia, not sure which strain, but, like yours, mine is looking very tatty now. It's past flowering and the leaves are drooping all over the place.

    It's always been like this, I think they're just one of those rather untidy looking plants. I did some research as to whether I could cut it right back in Autumn, get rid of all the old stems and leaves right back to the ground.

    Apparently it's not wise to do this because as the plant dies back for winter it's all the dead drooping leaves which protect it ready for next spring.

    What I do with mine now is just cut all the old flowering stems off and just embrace the scruffy look! Lol.

    Then next spring as the first new shoots start showing, all the old stuff can be cut off then. This practise as served me well since I've had it.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • NigelJ

      NigelJ Total Gardener

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      I grow Kniphofia rooperi and pull the dead leaves off when I'm weeding the bed it's in.
      It was grown from seed years ago.
      The other Kniphofia get the same treatment including the K northiae the tattiness is generally hidden by surrounding plants.
      Yesterday at a plant sale one nursery was selling K northiae they'd removed all the leaves leaving 6" high stumps, which I'm sure will grow away well next spring.
       
    • Palustris

      Palustris Total Gardener

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      Sadly I lost K northiae when we moved here. I grew it from wild collected seed many years ago.
      I think I will do as suggested and wait until spring to defoliate it.
      Thanks you both.
       
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