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Elvira Red Hot Poker

Kniphofia 'Elvira'

Kniphofia ‘Elvira’ in May 2014. Photo: SK Reid.
Kniphofia ‘Elvira’ in May 2014. Photo: SK Reid.

Summary

‘Elvira’ is a small, summer-blooming cultivar of poker plant that was 2’ 4” tall (70.2 cm) and 4’ 2” (129 cm) wide at the end of the second year in our trials. Dead foliage was cleaned out of all plants at the beginning of April.  There were no statistically significant differences in growth between treatments, but the two highest irrigation levels did have the best foliage and overall appearance ratings.  Only these two irrigation levels ever attained an average overall appearance rating of 4.0 or higher, and that was only for the month of May when they had the highest floral display rating. Plants began blooming lightly on some specimens in April and continued through July. The foliage of ‘Elvira’ was not consistently green and vigorous, and required monthly removal of yellowed, dying leaves to maintain appearance.  There were also several plants affected adversely by mealy bugs.  As shown in Table 14, the two lowest treatments did not yield an acceptable average annual overall appearance rating. The toughness and low-water habit of some Kniphofia seems to have been bred out of this cultivar.

Basic Info

Submitted by: Blooms of Bressingham
Trial Exposure: Sun
Year evaluated: 2014
Height & Width
(after 2 years):
2' 4" x 4' 2" - UC Davis
Reported Height & Width
(at maturity):
2-3' x 1.5-2'
WUCOLS plant type: P A
Water Needs & WUCOLS Region:
Medium - Region 2 
Mean Overall 
Appearance rating:
(1-5 Scale, 5 is highest)
3.3 - UC Davis 
Flowering Months
April-August - UC Davis

Growth and Quality Data

Click Here for Complete Data Set

Kniphofia ‘Elvira’ in September 2014 on 60% of ET0 displaying the ragged foliage that was typical of all treatment levels. Photo: SK Reid.
Kniphofia ‘Elvira’ in September 2014 on 60% of ET0 displaying the ragged foliage that was typical of all treatment levels. Photo: SK Reid.