Kniphofia thomsonii 'Kichocheo'

Thomson's Red Hot Poker Xanthorrhoeaceae

A red-hot poker with a name that means “catalyst” or “stimulus” in Swahili — and a flower that certainly knows how to get things moving. ‘Kichocheo’ is a particularly elegant selection, producing dense spikes of brown-orange buds opening to soft apricot-yellow flowers, often repeating from summer into autumn. It is the sole survivor of a wild collection made in southern Kenya, subsequently introduced through Michael Wickenden of Cally Gardens in Scotland.

Unlike some of the more flamboyant red-hot pokers, this is a refined plant with narrow, architectural foliage and beautifully graduated flower spikes. Give it full sun and well-drained soil and it will make an excellent companion to grasses and late-season perennials. A catalyst in name and, quite possibly, in the border — it has a knack for getting the late-summer planting party started.

Height: 100–150cm
Spread: 40–60cm
Hardiness: RHS H4 (-10 to -5°C)