By Melody Kendall

In our recent yard redo we were looking for sturdy, low-water, easy care, evergreen plants. We also wanted our plants to have colorful long lasting blooms that attract pollinators.  Kniphofia uvaria or, as it is commonly known ‘red-hot poker' or “torch lily,” fit the bill nicely.

With the added positives of being virtually disease free and deer resistant this plant was a ‘must have' in our new landscape. There are 68 species in the genus Kniphofia, all originating in southern and eastern Africa. Here is the correct pronunciation of this African native: nuh·fow·fee·uh. Say that three times!

The variety of Kniphofia commonly seen in my neighborhood is uvaria. The leaves of these clumping plants are long, thin and grass-like, and the clumps grow to be 2-3 feet wide and tall.  The long lasting flowers do look like red hot pokers or upright torches on long stems that can sometimes reach 5 feet tall.  Each of these multiple stems terminate in a 4+ inch multi petaled cone shaped flower that graduates from a base of light yellow to the top of deep crimson.  For the best performance, plant these rhizomatous perennials in full sun. The plants will still perform in partial shade, but flower production will be greatly reduced.  Bees and hummingbirds flock to these brightly colored blooms throughout the blooming season.  Kniphofia prefers well drained, moist but not wet soil.  If you deadhead spent blooms on plants the blooming season will be extended. In the fall, cut off the dead foliage around the base of the plants and clumps can be dug up and divided, if desired.  If left as is, they will continue to expand outward without decline in floral display or decline the plant's leaves and summer blooms.  So, if you don't plan on moving the plants any time soon make sure to locate them where they have room to grow.

When researching varieties of Kniphofia we discovered multiple options with different blooming periods that extend from May thru October. For diversity in the ‘look' of our garden and for a longer blooming period we chose, along with the uvaria, two other Kniphofia options, the ‘Lemon Popsicle' and a curly leaf variation called ‘Limelight'. 

In general appearance ‘Lemon Popsicle' is a miniature version of the larger uvaria with thinner, more grass-like leaves. Blooms of this variety do look like lemon yellow ‘popsicles' with blooms that are not as dense and have shorter stems than the uvaria. They are still cone shaped, prolific and are pollinator magnets. 

In our opinion the most interesting Kniphofia is ‘Limelight.'  This plant's leaves are close to the ground, roughly textured, sharp edged and curly.  To me they look like green dreadlocks laying in a 3 foot circle.  And, for added whimsey, the flowers of this variety are lime green. But the ‘hummers' and the bees don't care; they still taste good.  

The uvaria blooms from May thru June and the ‘Lemon Popsicle' June thru July and the ‘Limelight' July thru August, so we have these spectacular blooms all summer long. The hummingbirds and the bees are happy, and I just discovered that the Kniphofia blooms do well as cut flowers. What's not to like about this tough garden workhorse?

Napa Master Gardeners are available to answer garden questions by email: mastergardeners@countyofnapa.org. or phone at 707-253-4143.  Volunteers will get back to you after they research answers to your questions.

Visit our website: napamg.ucanr.edu to find answers to all of your horticultural questions.

Photo credits: Mel Kendall

Information links:

UCMG Santa Clara County http://mgsantaclara.ucanr.edu/garden-help/water-wise-plants/?uid=55&ds=833

Jepson Herbarium-UC Berkeley https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=29921

Missouri Botanical Garden

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=i310

Lemon Popsicle

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=439177&isprofile=0&