This plant provides color to an otherwise dreary winter garden. Also is deer-resistant. Positive: On Sep 18, 2003, Muzikatz02 from Johannesburg, South Africa wrote: I live in South Africa where the 'red hot poker' grows wild.The firey colour attracts birds and bees and when they are in full flower. It just oozes nectar and this draws the birds. Big Promotion!100 PCS/Lot Kniphofia Flower Seeds red hot pokers-plants So Pretty Long Blomming fiery-hued flowers light,#XBGR. 2.9 out of 5 stars 4. FREE Shipping. Kniphofia Seeds (Red Hot Pokers) Perennial Flowers for Planting Organic Outdoor Non GMO 50 Seeds. Amazon Photos Unlimited Photo Storage Free With Prime: Prime Video.
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Red hot poker (Kniphofia uvaria) is an eye-catching, boldly colorful plant that's native to South Africa, and it's a gorgeous addition to any landscape. Not only are they beautiful, but red hot poker plants are exceptionally easy to grow; they're listed for growing in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9, though they can be hardy as far north as zone 5. They bloom intermittently from late spring to fall, and to help encourage flowering, you should deadhead your red hot pokers; otherwise, if left to go to seed, these plants will slow down their flower production.
What Are Red Hot Poker Plants?
The red hot poker plant is a showy, lovely perennial that's in the lily family. This plant's most striking characteristic is its blooms, which resemble glowing pokers or torches: towering stalks of orange, yellow, pink, red or cream-colored tubular flowers. The red hot poker flower, which typically grows to be between 3 and 4 feet tall, is truly one of the most showstopping blooms in any garden.
To care for this fire poker flower plant, you'll need to provide it with full sun and average, well-drained soil. Good drainage is essential, especially through winter, when wet soil can potentially make the roots rot. Plants should be spaced roughly 18 to 24 inches apart to allow for proper growth; these plants rarely need staking because their stalks are sturdy.
Red Hot Poker Plant Pruning
Red hot poker blossoms open from bottom to top over the course of several days, changing color as they mature; however, to ensure that your plant produces as many long-lasting blooms as possible, it's important to cut off old blooms to make room for new growth (this process is referred to as 'deadheading').
Deadheading refreshes a plant's appearance and helps to redirect the plant's energy towards root and vegetative growth; the best time to deadhead a flower is when its appearance begins to decline. Red hot poker flower spikes will begin to bloom in the springtime. As old flowers fade, remove them by cutting at the base of the stem, to promote continuous growth through the fall.
In colder climates, you can leave the old foliage on the plant to protect the crown over winter; then, you can tidy the plants in spring by pulling away dead and damaged leaves at the base. Leaving the foliage on the plant will allow the leaves to gather sunlight and create food through photosynthesis. In milder climates, you can cut or pull out any poor-looking leaves in fall; new leaves will replace them by springtime.
Tips for Caring for Red Hot Pokers
To ensure that your red hot poker plant produces bountiful, healthy blooms, follow these tried-and-true tips for caring for your plant:
- Use a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch (like shredded bark); this will help maintain soil moisture and prevent weed growth.
- Red hot poker plants don't grow well in poorly drained soil that stays soggy after it rains or watering; using the proper soil is one of the most important components of their care. Soil can be allowed to dry out in the fall and winter.
- During hot summers, red hot pokers need 1 inch of water per week; otherwise, flowering will decrease. These plants require adequate moisture when blooms are forming.
- In terms of fertilizing, you should amend the soil at planting with a 2- to 3-inch layer of compost, and then apply an organic fertilizer every spring afterward.
- In warm areas, in late fall, you can tie the leaves of your red poker plant into a canopy over the crown; this will help prevent water from building up in the center of the plant during winter.
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About the Author
Justine Harrington is based in Austin, where she writes about current trends in health, wellness, community, gardening and sustainability. Her work has been published in Forbes, USA Today, Fodor's, Marriott Traveler, SAS Airlines, the Austin American-Statesman, Austin Monthly, and dozens of other print and online publications.
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