Red Hot Poker - Torch Lily (Kniphofia)

 

[Device used: Nikon D60; Pakenham, Victoria, Australia; AUG/2020]

31 AUG 2020, Last day of winter in Australia. Today I went to Arib's school at Pakenham Springs Primary to pickup his writing note book which his teacher Amanda left for him in the office.

Just around the corner of his school at Livingston Rd and Heritage Blvd where the round about is, I saw this beautiful Red hot poker also known as Torch Lily. I couldn't resist to take some pictures.

I missed the bird (Couldn't get into focus) which was taking nectar from the flower while I was crossing the road. But I managed to take some beautiful pictures of the flower though.

[Device used: Nikon D60; Pakenham, Victoria, Australia; AUG/2020]

I looked up on the internet and found some information regarding this beautiful flower. Hope that will be helpful if you are interested.

[Device used: Nikon D60; Pakenham, Victoria, Australia; AUG/2020]

Mostly from South Africa, there are around 70 species of clump-forming perennials that make up this genus in the asphodel (Asphodelaceae) family, They are grown mainly for their tall flower stems that are topped with vivid bottlebrush-shaped heads of red, orange, yellow, cream, and sometimes green flowers, and many hybrids and cultivars have been raised in a variety of sizes, and these have extended the flower colour range even further. The genus name honours German professor Johann Hieronymus Kniphof (17041763), while the common names red hot poker or torch lily, aptly describe the appearance of the striking flowerheads.

Red hot pokers are clump-forming perennials with grassy to sword-shaped, often evergreen foliage that emerges from vigorous rhizomes. Tall sturdy flower stems bear bottlebrush heads of intensely coloured flowers, usually in shades of orange and red. Many hybrids and cultivars have been raised in a variety of sizes and flower colours. Flowering usually occurs from autumn to spring, depending on the species, and the blooms last well when cut. [1]

[Device used: Nikon D60; Pakenham, Victoria, Australia; AUG/2020]

This particular flowering beauty belongs to the genus in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae, which includes more than 70 species that originally came from South Africa. The red hot poker is a herbaceous perennial and it’s known to our Australian nectar feeding birds especially the rosellas, honeyeater and wattlebirds that dine on the tall striking flower heads between autumn and spring. 

With a range of different heights, the most common red hot poker flowers grown in Australia for landscaping are Kniphofia Uvaria, Yellow Hammer, Lime Glow, Percy’s Pride, Caulescens, Ensifolia, James Nottle and Traffic Lights to name a few. From 25 inches tall for the dwarf red hot poker Little Maid a small variety that has spikes of creamy white to one of the tallest hot pokers winter cheer that grows to a height of 180 inches this can only be achieved with a quality well drained humus rich soil, like most plants these will bloom and grow best if they are well watered and given proper care and maintenance. The evergreen pokers are fairly drought tolerant, frost resistant, but not completely hardy against the most extremes of climates that we are use to here in Australia. For easy care low maintenance, buy the tougher hot poker varieties which sport distinctively narrower leaves. You can deadhead the red hot poker flowering stalks after flowering by cutting them back down to the crown and in late autumn primarily you can cut the long leaves by half only to keep your hot pokers neat and tidy. These plants are best planted in spring after the last frost if you are introducing them to your garden. 

[Device used: Nikon D60; Pakenham, Victoria, Australia; AUG/2020]

These lovely red hot fire poker plants will grow in part shade but prefer full sun with soil that has excellent drainage, they will not tolerate clay soils especially during the colder months. While transplanting create a hole that is about 20cm deep and 10cm wide. Use a mixture of 50% compost and 50% grit to plant the red hot poker plant in your garden. When planting the poker plants never cover the crown with soil deeper than 3 inches otherwise the hot poker may not flower and could even rot. Because hot poker plants flower at different times of the year it is best to divide poker plants straight after flowering preferably in the cooler months of the year. Keep the mulch away from the crown after you have divided and replanted the plant. [2]