Kniphofia (pronounced /nɪpˈhoʊfiə/)[1] (Tritoma, Red hot poker, Torch lily, Poker plant) is a genus of plants in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae,[2] that includes 70 or more species native to Africa. Some species have been commercially used horticulturally and are commonly known for their bright, rocket-shaped flowers.
These plants produce spikes of upright, brightly-colored, red-to-orange flowers. This gives names such as "torch" and "red hot poker" to many of them. The flowers produce copious nectar while blooming and may attract sap-suckers such as hummingbirds and New World orioles.
The Kniphofia genus is named after Johann Hieronymus Kniphof, an 18th century German physician and botanist.
HOW TO GROW
Red-hot pokers have got themselves a bad name. This may be the fault of Professor Kniphof, the German botanist in whose honour they became known as kniphofia - so unnerving to pronounce. These plants of the lily family, natives of South Africa, used to be called tritoma, which is far less of a mouthful.
Whatever their name, they have had a consistently bad press. Shirley Hibberd, the Victorian garden writer, thought pokers were vulgar and that their use required "a little extra care to avoid a violation of good taste". Resistance to the whole idea of red-hot pokers dies hard - perhaps because few have ever seen their elegant, modern forms.
Think of them as "torch lilies" - another of their names that never caught on - and use them to light up sultry August borders. Most people see the point of verticals such as verbascums and foxgloves, and kniphofias are every bit as good. Nor do they have to be red.
Beth Chatto has been a fan of kniphofias for years. She has even raised a few at her famous nursery near Colchester. 'Little Maid' is a delightful plant that should convert even the most confirmed poker-haters - its flowers start pale green, then fade to cream. The leaves are narrow and neat, and it never grows much more than 2ft tall.
Twice the height is another of Beth Chatto's creations, 'Green Jade', which she raised from seed collected in the garden of Cedric Morris, the painter. Green is a lovely colour for late summer, when everything turns dusty. I also like 'Percy's Pride', which has a touch more yellow in its green and beefier flowers than the slender spires of 'Green Jade'
