Kniphofia (red hot poker)

Hi all

I have tried on several occasion to grow red hot poker

The one's I have tried up to now have failed miserably they last about two years or maybe its the varieties as the bees lemon/sunset not very strong growers and Little Maid very small:

Little Maid
Bees Sunset
Bees Lemon
Spring Time

Any one any suggestions of a good strong variety that they have grown themselves or know of any .

My soil is very free draining , and I do have a spot in full sun

Spruce

 

I too don't have much luck with red hot pokers either. I dug up some last year and moved them too a sunnier spot but it says they won't flower this year. I can't remember the variety, but I've got a few growing in the greenhouse that I sowed in August. Variety is crown hybrid will see how they go. I might have a few spare when I pot them up in the spring if your interested?

 

I got mine from wilkinson years ago , they seams indestructible , moved around and in the wet and shade have done even better then the sunny position , will divide mine in spring , they are just the simple variety , but keep flowering years after years.

 

Mine are in the 'mostly' shade here under the 30 foot tall almond tree and I can't get rid of them, have had them for years also ... may take them down to the river this spring and see how they do. They flower sporadically but probably because I never water them ... they get what they get from our winter rains, should we have any!

 

I have found this very interesting reading

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/planttrials/TrialReports/Kniphofia 2009.pdf

 

Hi there,
well, years ago I was growing Kniphofia 'Alcazar' in my mum's garden. We had it in sunny spot but in the border with moist soil even during hot and dry summer days.
It was very happy there and flowered each summer.
They do like sun but also rich , free draining soil and mainly they hate waterlogging.
Winters could be specially damaging due to waterlogging and changing in temp.
So, perhaps I would just check if during winter your free draining soil is still free draining and perhaps try to give them some good feed of organic matter to make sure that they have enough nutrients.
Free draining soils could loose nutrients very quickly!!
I hope that this could be of any help. Good luck with them this year!!

Jitka

 

I had clay soil in a previous garden and they put on a great display every year, they were also in full sun for much of the day. I now have free draining sandy soil which I don't think will suit them.

 

I can't stop the things from growing.

They're self seeding everywhere. On the patio. Beside the pond. On a gravel drive. I've had to construct a wooden barrier to stop them swamping my heathers.

 

Kindred, this reminds me of my Freesias here ... I couldn't grow the things in Bucks for love nor money and here they are growing between shrubs, in the gravel drive as you say and in pots with other things in them. And we are loving it as we love Freesias and they seem to have doubled in height and size growing from self-seed!

 

You're not alone! I planted Green Jade last year and got nothing despite it being in the "ideal" spot. I'm hoping that it was because it was a young plant in a poor summer

 

I tried several times to grow them, and finally got one going along. I put it in a spot where most plants appear to struggle. It threw up a fine spike last year ,this year I hope to see an increase.

 

Spotted a few that I really like .

Moonstone
Brimstone
Elvira

Mmm now just to find a supplier .

Spruce

 

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/RHS-Pu...sues/September/Kniphofia---pick-of-the-pokers

This is very informative, fab pictures as well

Spruce

 

Seen Kniphofia caulescens at Cambridge botanical garden and they look really good
anyone got any???

 

These are mine growing in a narrow cut in tarmac.

They look green in the pic but they are actually blue.



They were only grown from seedlings in the spring and that's their first year (2012) planted out. They should be better this year.