Red Hot Poker is is a genus of about 70 species of evergreen or herbaceous, mostly clump-forming, rhizomatous, ornamental perennials. The evergreen species feature linear strap-shaped basal leaves and showy bottlebrush-like flower spikes. The herbaceous species have narrow, grass-like leaves. The genus is native to mountainous areas in southern to tropical Africa. Plant size ranges from dwarf to 1 1/2 feet tall, with some species reaching 6 feet tall. The genus name honors Johann Hieronymus Kniphof (1704-1763), a German physician and botanist. Red Hot Poker prefers a rich, well-drained, evenly moist soil in full sun. Light shade is helpful if summers are hot and the plant should be sited in a location protected from wind. It will do well in sandy soils, but does not tolerate clay. This plant is slightly salt tolerant. Roots should be covered with mulch in the winter and, to avoid ice forming in the crown, you can tie the leaves together to form a roof over the crown. Deer and rabbits tend to avoid this genus. It is best not to disturb established clumps of plants, but if division is needed, sever offsets from the edge of the plant to avoid disturbing the rhizomes. When transplanting, cover the rhizomes to a depth of 4 inches. To encourage blossoms, remove spent flower spikes. Cut back foliage to 3 inches above the ground in early spring for the new growing season. You can grow species plants from seed, but named cultivars should be propagated by division to maintain a true flower color. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant diseases or insect pests. Root rot can be a problem is drainage is poor, especially in the winter. Thrips can be a problem.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 6 ft. 6 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Dense; Mounding
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf size
> 6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Flowers rise from the center of a basal tuft (rosette). Herbaceous species have narrow, grass-like leaves up to 3 feet; evergreen species have broad, coarse, strap-shaped, linear leaves to 5 feet long.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Pink; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme; Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower detail
Flower spikes open from the bottom up, are broad at the top, but tapered at the base. Species of this genus come in shades of orange, red, yellow, and apricot. Blooms in early summer to late fall, depending on species.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Cameroon, Eritrea to South Africa, Madagascar
Distribution
Introduced to Turkey, Spain, Mexico, West Coast of the United States, Germany.
Wildlife value
The flowers produce copious nectar while blooming and are attractive to bees.
Attracts
Bees; Hummingbirds; Pollinators; Songbirds
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow
Landscape theme
Cutting Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border; Specimen
Garden tags
#salt tolerant #well-drained soil #rhizomes #summer bulbs #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #perennial #herbaceous perennial #colorful #flowering