What is a Red Hot Poker? These herbaceous perennials are incredibly tall with spike-like, brightly coloured flowers. The flowers are most commonly yellow, red, or orange. While they are often referred to as torch lilies, they do not form part of the lily family.

What do red hot pokers attract?

Uses for Red Hot Pokers

They love the bright colors of it and sweet nectar, and are attracted to the tubular shape of the flowers. Birds, bees and butterflies are also attracted to it.

Does red hot poker plant spread?

Removing the offset plants is also a way to keep the plant from spreading too wide. However, it may take a few years for the new offset plant to start flowering. Pests/Disease: Red hot poker plants don't have any serious pests. The biggest problem is their crowns rotting due to winter cold and poor soil water drainage.

Do red hot pokers come up every year?

The plant will go dormant for winter and much of the foliage yellows at this time. The plant rests for several months to begin growing again in spring.

Are red hot poker plants poisonous?

While it's not recommended for you or your pets to consume this plant, there are no toxic parts. One concern of ingestion, especially in larger quantities, is calcium oxalate. This substance is a leading cause of kidney stones and found in a wide range of garden plants.

Red Hot Pokers: Incredible Color all Summer

38 related questions found

How long do red hot pokers flower for?

Colourful and exotic-looking, red-hot pokers flower over many months and make spectacular garden plants. They do well in coastal gardens and can be very long-lived.

Can red hot pokers be grown in pots?

Red Hot Poker plants can be grow in containers, as well.

Select dwarf varieties, such as 'Little Maid'. Keep the container well-watered, and fertilize every 2 weeks with a liquid fertilizer.

Are red hot pokers perennials?

Red hot pokers are popular, easy to grow perennial plants that are widely known for their striking flowers atop tall, strong stems. Also known as torch lilies and kniphofia, these hardy plants also provide great structure with their long, blade like foliage.

Will Red Hot Poker bloom the first year?

Common Questions on Red Hot Poker Plants

Yes, these perennial plants will return year after year given the correct growing conditions and protection during the winter.

Why is my red hot poker plant not blooming?

If your area is below normal temps or the temperatures got too high too soon, the blooming schedule would be thrown out of whack. Lack of light can also cause insufficient or lack of blooms in Red Hot Poker. If your area has become shadier than it has been in the past, you will need to move your plants.

How do you look after red hot poker plants?

Gardeners should be diligent with watering during hot and dry spells. Provide a 2- to 3-inch (5-7.5 cm.) layer of mulch to help with water retention and for protection during cold winters. Cut foliage off at the base of the plant in late fall and remove spent flower spike to encourage more blooms.

Do deer eat red hot pokers?

Red Hot Poker Plant Features

This tough-as-nails, sun-loving perennial produces tall spikes of red, yellow, or bi-colored flowers in mid- to late summer. ... Red hot poker grows 2 to 3 feet tall and is rabbit and deer resistant.

Do hummingbirds like red hot poker?

Red Hot Pokers (Kniphofia)

And, not only will it attract hummingbirds, but bring in bees, butterflies and birds as well. ... Available in varieties with red, yellow, orange or combinations of all three, the brightly colored blooms are an alluring attraction to hummingbirds.

Do birds eat red-hot pokers?

We have beautiful 'Fiery Fred' red-hot pokers (kniphofia), but as soon as the flowers appear, the birds eat them. ... You could try to lure the birds away with tasty treats. Wiggly Wigglers makes British-grown birdseed mixes that might just do the trick.

Where do you plant red-hot pokers?

Grow Kniphofia in fairly light, well-drained soil and position them in full sun or partial shade. These plants often grow naturally in wetlands, so are ideal for planting around a wildlife pond (with some winter protection).

Are red hot poker plants invasive?

Being rhizomatous, red hot pokers can be aggressive growers in favorable conditions; they are even considered invasive in some areas. 2 They are attractive to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies but, fortunately, not to deer.

Do you deadhead red hot poker plants UK?

They bloom intermittently from late spring to fall, and to help encourage flowering, you should deadhead your red hot pokers; otherwise, if left to go to seed, these plants will slow down their flower production.

Are red hot pokers good for bees?

All of the pokers produce spikes of upright, brightly colored flowers well above the foliage, in shades of red, orange and yellow, often bi-colored. The flowers produce ample nectar while blooming and are attractive to bees and sunbirds in Africa.

Can kniphofia be grown in pots?

Firstly, for smaller gardens or urban spaces, red-hot pokers can be grown well in containers.

Are red hot poker native to Australia?

It is native to southern Africa, from the Cape to Zimbabwe and Malawi. The plant grows in large clumps, reaching up to 2m (6′) tall, with a spread of up to 3m (10′). In south-eastern Australia it flowers from late June to late August or September. Its glorious red blooms stand out against a blue winter sky.

Are red hot poker plants Evergreen?

Kniphofia are tough, long-lived plants, with a long flowering season (spring to late autumn). Foliage: Perennial evergreen.

What flowers are deer proof?

The best deer resistant flowers are those that contain acrid sap including lavender, sage, and oregano.
...
Deer use their sense of smell not only to detect predators but also to find their next meal.

• Virginia Bluebells.
• Verbena.
• Peonies.
• Iris.
• Baptisia.
• Geraniums.
• Coreopsis.
• Blanket Flower.

Is Black Eyed Susan deer resistant?

Named for their dark brown centers peeking out of the gold or bronze petals, black-eyed susans thrive in the sun. Because its covered in course hair, deer and rabbits stay far away from it. These daisy-like blooms are perfect for a late summer or fall bouquet.