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Kniphofia x praecox is often confused with:
Asclepias tuberosa Asclepias tuberosa
Celosia argentea Form
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Canna Flower
Impatiens hawkeri Impatiens hawkeri
Zinnia elegans Zinnia elegans
Kniphofia x praecox has some common insect problems:
Thrips Found on Flowers and Foliage
Kniphofia x praecox has some common disease problems:
Black Root Rot on Ornamental Plants

Red Hot Poker Kniphofia x praecox

Other plants called Red Hot Poker:

Phonetic Spelling
ny-FOH-fee-uh PRAY-koks
Description

Kniphofia x praecox is a hybrid offspring of K. uvaria and K. bruceae and is often known by the common name Greater Fire Poker.

Greater Fire Poker is one of the most popular of the Red Hot Poker plants. It is an erect, perennial, evergreen with long flowering stalks of 2 to 4 feet tall and clumps of basal leaves up to 3 feet in diameter. This plant blooms in the summer and occasionally has a fall flush that is not as spectacular. It is a tough plant that is very easy to grow. 

Greater Fire Poker does best in full sun in average to sandy, medium moisture, well-drained soils. It is intolerant of wet, heavy soils. Wet soils can cause rot and death in the winter. Site the plant in an area protected from wind and cold and promptly remove spent flower spikes. Once established, it is best not to disturb or move the plants.

This plant can be a stunning ornamental in the front of a shrub border, or planted along a driveway or walkway. It can be utilized as single specimens or for mass planting in beds because of its strong, vivid, and bold colors. This plant is resistant to damage by deer and is slightly salt tolerant.  It can spread easily by means of rhizomes.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Basal cluster of strap-like, keeled leaves with lily point
  • Elongated peduncle topped with bright red to yellow flowers
  • Flowers are dense, crowded, pendulous, tubular, and overlapping

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

This plant has no serious pest or disease problems. Root rot in poorly-drained soils and thrips may appear in some areas. Greater Fire Poker does not do well in cold winters and will benefit from mulch. Alternatively, you can tie the leaves together to form a canopy over the crown to prevent water from settling on the crown and freezing.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#red flowers#yellow flowers#orange flowers#fall interest#well-drained soil#summer flowers#cream flowers#fantz#driveway planting#walkway planting#shrub borders#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#red flowers#yellow flowers#orange flowers#fall interest#well-drained soil#summer flowers#cream flowers#fantz#driveway planting#walkway planting#shrub borders#perennial
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Kniphofia
    Family:
    Asphodelaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Bulb
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Africa
    Wildlife Value:
    noted for attracting wildlife.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Size:
    > 6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are crowded, pendulous, and tubular. They can be bold red, yellow, cream to coral, orange, or white in cultivar selections. Inflorescence is a scapose raceme arising from a radial cluster of leaves. Peduncles are fleshy, thick, and erect. Rachis are densely crowded with flowers and buds, 1/5-1/4 the length of the peduncle.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Linear
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are alternate, linear, crowded vasally, keeled, strap-like, grayish-green in color and can grow up to 3 inches long. Leaf margins come together into a pointed apex. Blades are sheading basally and are overlapping each other around minute stems.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Pool/Hardscape
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Cutting Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Rabbits
    Salt
    Wind