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Kniphofia uvaria

 
Kniphofia uvaria
Best performance yet - 2009
red hot poker; torch lily
Typically anemic performance
Common name red hot poker; torch lily
Family asphodelaceae
Life cycle perennial
Flowers yellow/orange
Light sun
From seed germinate at room temperature
detailed seed-starting info below

Photos of this perennial with its upright two-tone flower spikes invariably look much more dramatic than what we achieve in our garden. We've had two specimens, both planted in full-sun areas, and they don't even manage to bloom every year. The mop of strappy foliage isn't anything special, so without flowers, there's not much show. I should find out what conditions or treatment will entice them to perform more enthusiastically.
On a side note, I once spotted a reputable gardening magazine suggesting the pronunciation for this genus was nee-foh-FEE-uh, which still rates as the most delightful botanical mispronunciation I've come across. The German professor Kniphof (k-nip-hoaf), for whom this plant was named, would have had a good laugh.

This plant used to grow in our garden, but it slipped away...

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Seed-starting details for this plant

  1. Seed from NARGS '21/'22 exchange. Baggy 70F (100%G, 5-13d)


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