Kniphofia is a large genus of plants in the Asphodelaceae family that are rhizomatous or have fleshy roots. They are from Africa, Madagascar and Yemen. Most of the species are from Africa, especially South Africa and many of the popular cultivars originated from South African species. The common name for these plants is poker or red hot pokers because of their spikes which are often red or orange-red. Seeds last well up to two years - Rachel Saunders.
Kniphofia 'Bees Sunset' blooming in the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens in July 2004. Photos by Bob Rutemoeller.
Kniphofia 'Border Ballet' Plants going under this name have very narrow foliage and a beautiful range of pastel color forms to choose from, including some nice pink forms. The plant overwintered well in my cold USDA Zone 5 garden, bulking up nicely and started flowering at the end of September. My plant has flowers that are pale yellow tinged with pastel melon orange color; subtle and beautiful. Both photos by Mark McDonough taken September 30, 2005, showing the flower and the plant form.
Kniphofia rooperi has a typical compressed triangular flower spike in the early stages. Its colours graduate from cream, orange to green at the top. Originates from the milder coastal area of east South Africa. It flowers in mid winter and is therefore well adapted to the mild Mediterranean climate. In August with drought and high temperatures the plant slows down. This is the best moment to prune off the superflous leaves. After 4-5 years in place it is advised, in order to maintain a generous flowering, to divide the rhizomes (end of summer or late winter). An ideal plant to colour your drive way in midwinter. Both photos taken by Lauw de Jager in his garden (South of France) in February 2008
Kniphofia sarmentosa has strap-shaped leaves and reddish flowers, becoming buff with exserted anthers. This species is found in mountain streams and moist hollows from the western Karoo to the Hex River mountains (winter rainfall areas) of South Africa. The first two photos were taken in South Africa, August 2001 in a very wet winter in the western Karoo and the last was taken September 2006 in the Roggeveld. The first three photos were taken by Mary Sue Ittner. The last picture was taken by Lauw de Jager February 2008 in a garden in Gerona, Northeastern Spain.
Kniphofia thomsonii is among the more strikingly distinct Kniphofia. The well spaced individual flowers, each gracefully down-curved, give these plants something of a Lachenalia or Phygelius look. The first photo by David Fenwick and the second by Jim McKenney show a triploid form of this species. It is a form of this species that is most widely grown in North America.
Kniphofia thomsonii var. snowdenii is distinguished from the species based on the pubescence on the flowers. Photos by David Fenwick.
Kniphofia thodei grows in moist mountain grassland, up to 2750m. This photo was taken by Roy Herold in KwaZulu-Natal Province, near Kamberg in the foothills of the Drakensberg, in early November 2004. The same plants were observed blooming in December, 2006.
Kniphofia triangularis is an evergreen perennial to 60 cm tall with coral red to orange yellow flowers in a cylindrical nodding head. Blooming January to April, it is found in mountain grassland, streambanks, and moist areas in the Eastern Cape to the Northern province of South Africa. Photo by Cameron McMaster.
Kniphofia uvaria is a winter rainfall species that grows in seeps, marshes, and streams on sandstone slopes and flowers in spring. It has strap-shaped leaves that are keeled. Flowers are orange to greenish yellow with anthers either not or slightly exserted at flowering. Photos taken September 2006 in South Africa near Bainskloof by Mary Sue Ittner and Bob Rutemoeller following a fire earlier in the year that had stimulated flowering.
Pictures below are of unknown species or cultivars. The first group of pictures was taken by Jennifer Hildebrand at the garden in the Getty Center in Southern California showing Kniphofia in front of some beautiful red roses.
This is a picture of plants flowering in Jim and Beverley Thompson's garden in Manchester, California. They are probably cultivars. I don't have a name for them. Photo by Bob Rutemoeller.
For more information and many pictures consult David Fenwick's web site