It’s not a rampant seeder, however, and
surplus plants are easily relocated to
another part of the garden or to the
compost pile. Knautia is a
drought-tolerant plant but does
appreciate a good drink during
extended dry periods. When irrigating,
use soaker hoses if possible, as
overhead watering invites powdery
mildew. Tall forms have a tendency to
flop, which can be alleviated by
selective pruning to lighten the load.
Better yet, address the flopping
problem ahead of time by surrounding
plants with pea sticks early in the year
or by giving them sturdy plant
neighbors to lean on when they get a
little top heavy.
related plantS Knautia macedon-
ica ‘Mars Midget’ maxes out at 12–16 in.
and doesn’t need staking. Knautia
macedonica Melton pastels is a seed
strain that produces crimson, mauve,
lavender, and light pink flowers.
Melton pastels is taller than most,
reaching 3–4 ft. ‘Thunder and Light-
ning’ is a compact variety at 12–15 in.
with white-edged leaves. It produces
no viable seed.Kniphofia hybrids
red-hot poker
xanthorrhoeaceae
Orange, red, or cream spikes; grasslike
foliage
2–4 ft. (1 1/4–1 1/2 ft.) high; 3 ft. wide
Full sun
Blooms summer (specific time depends on
the cultivar)
Zones 5–9
pruning Diligent deadheading may
prolong bloom. If earlier blooming
forms are deadheaded, sporadic
rebloom may occur later in the season
(some reblooming cultivars are listed
below). The old flower spike is unat-
tractive anyway and should be removed
by cutting it to the ground. The foliage
may decline after flowering; if neces-
sary, cut back by half to improve the
appearance. Do not cut foliage back for
the winter. Bundling up the leaves and
tying them together over the center of
the clump for the winter may helpinsulate the plant and prevent excess
moisture accumulation in the crown,
thus possibly improving survivability.
Cut back in the spring when all threat
of cold weather has passed, to about 3
in. from the ground, avoiding pruning
too close to the crown.
other maintenance Plants are
tender and short-lived due to lack of
cold hardiness and death from wet
overwintering conditions. Provide
good drainage. Mulch around plants
for the winter with a fine material such
as pine needles to help moderate soil
temperatures. Plant and divide in the
spring for establishment before winter.
related plantS Some noted
rebloomers include Kniphofia ‘Alcazar’,
‘Earliest of All’, ‘Kingstone Flame’,
‘Primrose Beauty’, and the Popsicle
Series (compact, 14 in.); ‘Pineapple
Popsicle’ is one of my favorites.
‘Alcazar’, ‘Earliest of All’, and ‘Royal
Standard’ are reputed to be the
hardiest cultivars.Kniphofia ‘Primrose Beauty’