Kniphofia rufa

Red Hot Poker Xanthorrhoeaceae

A more refined member of the red-hot poker tribe, Kniphofia rufa forms a handsome clump of evergreen, grassy foliage, above which rise slender, rather loosely arranged flower spikes in late summer. The flowers open primrose-yellow to greenish yellow, with the upper portions and buds flushed warm reddish-brown — a much subtler colour combination than the usual traffic-light pokers, and consequently rather more useful in naturalistic planting. The species is native to South Africa, and has a somewhat intriguing botanical history: the original plant grown at Kew appears to have arisen from seed received as K. nelsonii (now K. triangularis), with Max Leichtlin recognising that one plant differed sufficiently in its foliage to keep it separate. Its precise wild provenance is therefore uncertain, and the possibility of hybrid origin has long been discussed. 

In the garden it is an excellent choice for sunny, open planting, particularly where its fine foliage can contrast with broader-leaved perennials and ornamental grasses. It prefers fertile soil that is moist but well drained, especially avoiding prolonged winter wet, and is sufficiently drought tolerant once established to work well in gravel or prairie-style planting. Its relatively loose flowerheads are particularly attractive among grasses, where they seem less like conventional red-hot pokers and more like delicate flowering wands. The RHS rates it H5 and gives a mature height of around 75–90 cm. 

Interestingly, K. rufa is not a particularly fertile plant; historical observations recorded poor seed production and sometimes sterile pollen, adding further weight to the suspicion that the original plant may have been of hybrid origin. 

Distribution: South Africa; precise provenance of the original cultivated type uncertain.
Flowering: August–September
Hardiness: H5, approximately −15 to −10°C
Height: 75–90 cm
Spread: 35–50 cm