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Kniphofia rooperi (East Cape Poker) - This robust evergreen perennial has arching, deeply keeled, dark green leaves and orange-yellow spherical heads of flowers that are quite different from the elongated darker orange red torches that top the Kniphofia uvaria varieties. The flowers, rising up to 3-4 feet tall, are yellow towards the bottom and bright orange above. Flowering is noted as occurring in early fall in the southeastern US but in South Africa this plant blooms from winter into spring. Anyone familiar with the varying flowering times that Kniphofia cultivars exhibit in California knows that these plants can bloom at differing times just between southern California and the bay area. We are finding bloom on our Kniphofia rooperi in December 2006 through January 2007.
Plant in full sun and give regular irrigation. Hardy to USDA zone 7 (0-10 F) but it is likely to be evergreen only in zones 9 and above.
Kniphofia rooperi is native to coastal marshes on the summer-moist Eastern Cape of South Africa. 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. The specific epithet honors the British soldier, landscape painter and botanical collector Captain Edward Rooper, who was stationed in South Africa from 1848 to 1850. Rooper first sent this plant to his father in England, who then sent it on to William Jackson Hooker at Kew.
Our thanks to Tony Avent of Plant Delights Nursery for sharing his selection of this species with us which we grew from 2006 until 2023.
The information displayed on this page about Kniphofia rooperi is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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