How to Grow and Care for Red Hot Poker Plants

Plant red hot poker in a sunny spot that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of sun a day. Red hot poker is not fussy about soil type, but prefers life on the dry side so keep it away from poorly drained locations. Clip away the flower stalks after they fade.

Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia spp.)

It’s pretty obvious where kniphofia got its common name, red hot poker. 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’s flowers are also nectar-rich so they will draw butterflies and hummingbirds from miles around. Plus, even when not in bloom, the lance-shaped foliage of red hot poker adds interest and texture in the garden. In the northern part of its range, red hot poker is evergreen, adding color to your garden even in the drabbest months. Red hot poker grows 2 to 3 feet tall and is rabbit and deer resistant. Hardy from zones 5-9.

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Red Hot Poker Growing Instructions

Plant red hot poker in a sunny spot that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of sun a day. Red hot poker is not fussy about soil type, but prefers life on the dry side so keep it away from poorly drained locations. Clip away the flower stalks after they fade.

• Water Medium water needs
• Light Outside: Sun
• Colors Red Yellow
• Special Features Attracts butterflies Attracts hummingbirds Deer/rabbit resistant

Complement your Red Hot Poker

Coreopsis
Coreopsis thrives in hot, dry conditions and its yellow blooms blend well with the bright flowers of Red Hot Poker.

Artemisia
Tall Artemisia varieties make a good partner for Red Hot Poker because the gray leaves are very complementary.

Coneflower
The bold daisy-like flowers of Coneflower provide a colorful contrast to the spiky flower stalks of Red Hot Poker.

Our favorite varieties

Fire Dance Red Hot Poker

Kniphofia hirsuta ‘Fire Dance’

Fire Dance is an easy-to-grow perennial for sun that shows off deer-resistant, hummingbird-attracting red-and-yellow flowers. It grows only 20 inches tall and wide. Zones 5-9

Pineapple Popsicle Red Hot Poker

Kniphofia ‘Pineapple Popsicle’

This evergreen perennial stands out from other varieties because of its yellow-green flowers from late spring to early autumn. It grows 28 inches tall. Zones 6-8

Papaya Popsicle Red Hot Poker

Kniphofia ‘Papaya Popsicle’

Papaya Popsicle red hot poker is a full-sun plant that has orange-and-yellow flower spikes all summer long over a mound of grassy, textural foliage. It grows 18 inches tall and 20 inches wide. Zones 6-9

Echo Mango Red Hot Poker

Kniphofia uvaria ‘Echo Mango’

Echo Mango red hot poker is a favorite because of its extra-long bloom season, drought tolerance, and attractiveness to hummingbirds. It grows 36 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Zones 6-9

Echo Rojo Red Hot Poker

Kniphofia uvaria ‘Echo Rojo’

With blooms from midsummer to autumn, Echo Rojo red hot poker is a must-have for sunny perennial gardens — or as an annual in containers. It grows 40 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Zones 6-9

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How to Grow and Care for Red Hot Poker Plants

David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience.

Barbara Gillette is a Master Gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals.

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants.

Red hot pokers (Kniphofia) are herbaceous perennials prized for their tall, showstopping flower spikes in bright red, orange, yellow, and other colors. They are also commonly known as torch lilies, and though they do share some characteristics they are not true lilies (i.e., they are not members of the Liliaceae family).

There are more than 60 species in the Kniphofia genus, and most varieties available today are hybrids. Among the most popular are the dwarf cultivars that have clumping foliage reaching one to two feet high and flower stalks that stand over two feet tall. By comparison, one common species, Kniphofia uvaria, reaches 3 to 4 feet in height.

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

Red Hot Poker Plant Care

This repeat-bloomer benefits from deadheading to encourage prolific flowering. Blooms lowest down on the flower stalk dry up and fade first, turning a pale brown. This fading then progresses up the rest of the stalk until reaching the top bloom which is the last to lose its color.

If you live on the colder side of the growing range, mulch your plants for winter protection and wait until spring to prune back the foliage. The leaves will furnish a bit of extra protection against the cold. You can also bind the leaves together to create a protective cover for the plant’s crown (otherwise, it’s fine to remove a few unwanted leaves here or there throughout the growing season).

In spring, prior to the growing season, trim the foliage base to a few inches above the ground to give the plant a fresh start for the growth ahead.

Red hot pokers spread via rhizomes, eventually forming clumps that can become overcrowded. You can divide them in spring to minimize overcrowding, but it’s best to remove offsets from the perimeter of clumps rather than dividing clumps down the middle. Division can damage the plant’s bloom cycle, especially with mature clumps.

Warning

In some areas, this plant spreads rapidly through aggressive rhizomes. Currently, it is considered invasive in California and Oregon. Please see the Invasive Plant Atlas for more information.

Light

Grow your red hot poker plants in full sun for the best blooms. They will tolerate some shade and can benefit from afternoon shade in climates with hot summers.

Soil

These plants need soil that drains well. They are generally tough perennials, but poor drainage is one of the few things that will kill them. Damp soil is particularly problematic in winter, as it promotes root rot.

Water

Kniphofia has modest water needs once established. Water frequently after planting and less frequently in subsequent seasons.

Temperature and Humidity

Indigenous to South Africa, red hot pokers can be hardy as far north as zone 5, especially with good drainage and mulch, through zone 9. In cold climates, winterize the plants by covering their crowns with mulch.

Fertilizer

Plants in nutritious soil typically do not need feeding. If the soil is poor, feed with a slow-release fertilizer to promote blooms.

Types of Red Hot Poker

• ‘Red Hot Popsicle’: One of the ‘Popsicle’ series of cultivars; a dwarf variety that grows to two feet tall (with flower) and 18 inches wide with red flowers
• ‘Pineapple Popsicle’: Same as the above variety, with yellow flowers
• ‘Mango Popsicle’: Also same as the above varieties, with orange flowers
• ‘Ice Queen’: Lime-yellow to light-yellow flowers (sometimes described as white); grows four feet tall (with flower) and two feet wide
• ‘Lady Luck’: An unusually tall variety that grows about 5 feet tall and about 3 feet wide with white flowers

Pruning

When flowers begin to fade, simply cut them away from the stem with a sharp pair of garden shears. Cut them about one-half inch below the flowers.

Propagating Red Hot Poker

Red hot poker plants can be propagated by division or seeds. To divide, simply lift the plants from the ground and tease the clumps apart with your fingers. They can be replanted immediately.

How to Grow Red Hot Poker Plants From Seed

The entire flower of the red hot poker is filled with seeds. Cut the flower heads as they begin to fade and let them dry thoroughly for at least 24 hours. Break open the florets and let the seeds drop into a container. Place the seeds in the refrigerator for one month.

Sow the seeds indoors about six to eight weeks before you intend to plant them in the ground. Use pots that are several inches deep, as red hot poker plants form a long taproot. Keep them in good quality potting soil, keep that soil moist, and keep the temperature between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Plants should germinate within 28 days or so.

In warmer areas, you can sow the seeds directly into the garden.

Overwintering

Protecting red hot poker plants for the winter is simple; in colder climates, simply cover the plants with an insulating layer of mulch. Remove the mulch when spring rolls around.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Thrips may appear in some areas for red hot poker plants, though the genus experiences no other significant pest or disease problems.

How to Get Red Hot Poker to Bloom

If your plant is not blooming, consider where it’s planted. Remember that full sun is necessary; Have other plants grown enough that they now create shade? Look at the crown of the plant as well. It should be buried no more than three inches deep in the soil.

Remove all foliage down to the base of the plant in the fall. It should bloom in the spring. If not, it’s time to dig up the plant and divide the clumps to give it more room to grow.

Gaillardia, also known as blanket flower, is a great alternative to red hot poker, especially in areas where red hot poker is considered invasive.

Dwarf varieties of red hot poker can be grown indoors. Keep in mind that these plants will need regular division to stay healthy in pots, and you might not get as many blooms as you would if the plant were outdoors.

This plant needs to be divided every few years, extending its lifespan by avoiding overcrowding.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Garden Torches. University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
2. Kniphofia uvaria. Missouri Botanical Garden.