Kniphofia

Otherwise known as Red Hot Pokers, the Kniphofia are sun lovers and would prefer an open sunny position. But gardening books mostly suggest that they need very well drained soils to do well. We think that in this they are wrong. In our heavy loam soils, which are never waterlogged for long, these field grown varieties thrive and increase well, despite having experienced temperatures below -15ºC with little protection in past winters. They must be much more resilient than is usually suggested. In cold areas one may need to be careful of extended freeze ups, against which a protective mulch of the crown would be advisable. They last ages in flower and offer vertical accents of colour in the late summer with very little trouble at all.