Kniphofia uvaria
A South African native perennial with tall orange-to-yellow flower spikes, drought- and heat-tolerant, and attractive to hummingbirds.
Common Names
Red Hot Poker, Torch Lily, Tritoma, Flame Flower
Summary
Kniphofia uvaria is a rhizomatous South African perennial commonly called red hot poker or torch lily, forming a clump with long, grass-like leaves and tall flower spikes bearing dense racemes that start red and mature to yellow. Spikes rise above the foliage in summer to autumn, creating a two-toned display that attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
In cultivation it prefers full sun and well-drained soil, tolerates drought once established, and is hardy in USDA zones 5–9. Propagation is by division or seed; it can be used as a striking specimen, in mass plantings, borders, or as a cut flower, and is deer- and rabbit-resistant with generally good pest and disease resistance in proper drainage.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
2-4 feet
Spread
24-36 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 5-9
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally Full Sun, tolerates Partial Sun and Partial Shade.
Soil Type
Well-drained soil, preferably loam or sandy-loam, rich in organic matter.
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil that retains moisture without waterlogging.
Soil pH
6.0-8.0, Neutral
Bloom Color
Red, orange, and yellow
Bloom Time
Summer
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
Green
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf, Semi-deciduous
Growth Rate
Moderate
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (L.) Oken
- Publication
- Allg. Naturgesch. 3(1): 566 (1841)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Asparagales
- Family
- Asphodelaceae
- Subfamily
- Asphodeloideae
- Tribe
- Asphodeleae
- Genus
- Kniphofia
Synonyms
Kniphofia aloides Kniphofia bachmannii Kniphofia burchellii Kniphofia odorata Kniphofia occidentalis Tritoma recurva Tritomanthe uvaria Tritoma saundersii Tritoma nobilis Tritoma glauca Tritoma burchellii Tritoma canari Triclissa uvaria Veltheimia speciosa Veltheimia uvaria Aloe rigida Aloe uvaria Tritomium uvaria Kniphofia uvaria var. glaucescens Kniphofia uvaria var. nobilis Tritoma uvaria Aletris uvaria Aloe longifolia Kniphofia uvaria var. serotina