Kniphofia Species, Dwarf Red Hot Poker, Torch Lily, Tritoma

This species drew my attention as much through the fine texture of the grassy foliage (most Kniphofias have coarse, fat, untidy foliage) ...Read Moreas through the luminous orange color of the refined flowers and their graceful, slender stalks.

This is one of the latest kniphofia species to bloom, August-October here (January-April in its native South Africa). It does not bloom here in spring or early summer.

I tried this species once and it didn't survive its first winter. I've been putting off trying again because the day-neutral hybrids ('Echo Royo' [Echo series] and 'Mango Popsicle' [Popsicle series] promise the refined features of K. triangularis with the addition of a much extended bloom season).

I've had many different kniphofia over the years but last year the color of these beautiful pokers caught my eye amongst all the others a...Read Moret the nursery. They bloomed all summer. As I dead-headed I could see new shoots already rising through the foliage. They out-bloomed all my other pokers. I live near the mountains in Western Washington where we get torrents of rain in the fall to spring----this year being a record breaker, and winter temps can easily hit 5* and even 0; and where our summers can be in the 90's all of August----last summer was relentless 90's from the end of May through August. While other plants refused to set bud in the heat, these plants produced beautifully. I've learned from past experience NOT to cut the leaves back for the winter as they drain the water away from the core. I expected to lose these kniphofia with our heavy rains but they're all back this spring! My soil is a fast draining sandy loam with a thick nutritious mulch and in full hot sun. Other varieties bloom and grow beautifully in morning sun/P.M. shade, but only bloom once.