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Kniphofia

Kniphofia uvaria
Also known as: Red Hot Poker, Torch Lily, Tritoma, Poker Plant

Kniphofia is a flower in the Asphodelaceae family. It grows best in full sun with dry to medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 5-9. Plants reach maturity about 112–126 days after planting and sit about 12 inches apart.

Varieties

1 from True Leaf Market · sorted by days to maturity
  • Flamenco112–126 days

    Non-GMO; AAS Winner; Container; Perennial

    112-126 Days to maturity. Kniphofia uvaria. Flamenco Kniphofia Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, Perennial. Flamenco kniphofia seeds promise exotic, unmistakable, and award-winning blooms native to the cool ocean regions of South Africa's Cape Province. Flamenco seeds grow tropical 36-48 inch tall kniphofia plants bursting with dense fiery red "torch" blooms that'll transform any flower bed into a summertime oasis. Flamenco kniphofia is an All-American Selections Flower Winner, noted by judges for its "red-hot poker blooms" and for being a hardy perennial "with peak performance in its second year." About 9,000 seeds per ounce.

    View on True Leaf Market
Family
Asphodelaceae
Category
Flower
Form
Bush
Lifecycle
perennial
Zone
5-9
Height
3–4 ft
Spread
1.5–2 ft
Sun
Full sun

Plant spacing

1 plant per square footSquare-foot planting diagram: one kniphofia fills a 1-foot square, spaced 12 inches from its neighbors.
1 plant per square foot

In a square-foot bed, space kniphofia about 12 in apart — that fits 1 plant in each 1-foot square (1×1). Wider rows or containers space the same.

Water
Dry to medium

Plan your kniphofia planting

Add kniphofia to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.

Start your free plan →

At a glance

Days to harvest
112–126 days
From transplant or sow to first harvest
Harvest style
Harvest once
One main harvest
After harvest
Use within days
Quality eases off after peak
Frost tolerance
Hardy · to ~15°F
Lowest temperature the foliage usually survives
Germination
~55%
Typical minimum germination rate

Growing timeline

When to plant and harvest kniphofiaPlanting timeline for kniphofia, relative to last frost: start indoors from 11 weeks before last frost to 1 week after last frost; grow from 1 week after last frost to 17 weeks after last frost; harvest from 17 weeks after last frost to 19 weeks after last frost.Start indoorsGrowLast frostTransplant
Start kniphofia indoors ~12 weeks before transplanting 1 week after last frost; first harvest 17 weeks after last frost.
Seed to transplant
56-84 days
Outdoor planting
7 to 14 days vs frost
Propagation
Seed
Schedule anchor
Last Frost

Care & troubleshooting

No curated care & troubleshooting advice for kniphofia yet. Our extension-sourced library currently focuses on common edible crops; we're expanding it over time.