THERE is something delightful about the Kniphofia species – ‘red hot poker’ or ‘torch lily’, as some call it – when it comes into flower.
Tall spires in gradations of shades of yellow, orange, orange-red and even yellow-green, depending on the species, provide a brilliant show and a perfect vertical element in any herbaceous planting.
There are more than 40 species and sub-species of this plant, not including the many new hybrids that are now available.
Kniphofia species occur naturally in all provinces of South Africa, as well as Swaziland, Lesotho and beyond.
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In their natural habitat, most Kniphofia species enjoy moist conditions close to rivers and waterways, and that is why they do well in our summer-rainfall area, in soil that has been enriched with a good dose of compost.
Some of the winter-flowering grassland species prefer dry conditions.
These stately plants can be used to great effect in any garden situation to create a contrast in texture, to add height at the back of a border or simply interspersed throughout a garden bed.
Each plant bears several flower spikes that last for a long time and are enjoyed by sunbirds and insects.
I recently spotted a painted reed frog that was camouflaged in a yellow-flowering Kniphofia plant.
I also find that my seed-eating birds enjoy using the stems of this plant to launch themselves into the swathes of indigenous grasses (Melinus nerviglumus and Melinus repens) that I grow as an alternative to feeding wild bird seed.
Some of the summer-flowering Kniphofia die down in winter to emerge late the following spring.
However, unlike seasonal bulbs, the crown of the plant is still visible above ground, so there is little risk of their being damaged or dug up if you are working in their vicinity.
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My advice to gardeners is to plant both summer and winter flowering varieties so that your garden is always filled with these beauties.
I bought a beautiful plain yellow hybrid from a local wildflower nursery some years ago that has brought me so much pleasure.
Unfortunately, few garden centres stock a variety of the Kniphofias and they are not always correctly named, as I have discovered when trying to identify my own plants, but quite honestly I don’t care. We all have our favourites, and these are one of mine.
Kniphofias can be propagated from seed as well as by division.
Obviously seeds are the slower option but with a greater yield and the mother plant remains undisturbed.
Contact the Hillcrest Conservancy chairman, George Victor, on 073 901 3902, e-mail georgevic@telkomsa.net visit www.hillcrestconservancy.co.za or contact Lindsay Gray at info@schoolofgardendesign.com
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