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| Category: Perennial |
| Family: Asphodelaceae (~Liliaceae) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: <1 foot |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 0-10° F |
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Kniphofia 'Shining Sceptre' (Orange Hot Poker) - This is a perennial that forms dense clumps of blue-green arching grass-like foliage to 1-2 feet tall by 2 feet wide. In early to midsummer (June-August) are borne the heads of pale yellow-orange flowers on 3 to 4 foot tall copper-colored stems. Flowers in the upper portion of the spike age from pale orange to a bright apricot with those in the lower remain yellow. Plant in full sun and water regularly. Hardy to 0-10° F. The flowers on this cultivar initiate earlier than most other Kniphofia. There is a bit of confusion about the true identity of this cultivar. According to an article titled "Pick of the Pokers" in the Fall 2010 issue of The Plantsman, the quarterly published by the Royal Horticultural Society, 'Shining Sceptre' was introduced by Alan Bloom of Bressingham Gardens in 1975 though it appeared to have been lost by the nursery around 1980 and was not listed again in their catalog again until being re-introduced in 1987. There is speculation that the plant later offered as 'Shining Sceptre' was not the original and had been replaced an older cultivar called 'Bees' Sunset', originating from the Bees of Chester Nursery, which had operated between 1938 and 1960. The true 'Shining Sceptre' was originally described as clear yellow shading to primrose-ivory while 'Bees' Sunset was described as having flowers of a glowing gold orange, which better describes the cultivar we are growing. This issue was discovered by Royal Horticultural Society during plant trials of cultivars of Kniphofia conducted from 2007 to 2009 when it was determined that plants submitted as 'Shining Sceptre' were actually 'Bees' Sunset'. Since we received this plant under the name 'Shining Sceptre' and it has market recognition under this name we continue to offer it as such but provide this additional information for clarification. The name Kniphofia honors Johann Hieronymus Kniphof (1704 -1763), a German physician and botanist. The pronunciation of this genus is often argued about and while most continue to use the easiest to pronounce versions such as ny-FOE-fee-ah or nee-FOF-ee-a, others argue correctly that the name should follow the pronunciation of the name it commemorates. But even for this there are differences of opinion owing to different German regional dialects - one such pronunciation often noted as correct is nip-HOFF-ee-uh while another that is particularly hard to pronounce is k-nip-HOF-ia. Keeping it simple we still use ny-FOE-fee-ah.
This information about Kniphofia 'Shining Sceptre' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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