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| Category: Perennial |
| Family: Asphodelaceae (~Liliaceae) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Red & Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Summer/Fall |
| Height: 2-4 feet |
| Width: 4-6 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Seaside: Yes |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: < 0 °F |
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Kniphofia northiae (Giant Poker) - This evergreen plant forms dense 6 foot wide clumps of pale gray-green arching leaves that are up to 6 inches wide at the base and 2 to 3 feet long at the tapering tip. This is one of the few Kniphofias known to form a trunk, with older plants developing one up to 1 foot tall. In spring appear the flower stalks which by summer have risen to 3 feet above the foliage with dense ovoid heads that are pinkish-red in bud and open to a pale yellow. Some rebloom has been reported in fall. Plant in full sun to part shade. Not particular about soil and even tolerates heavy wet soils. Tolerates drought conditions but performs best with regular summer irrigation or even wet soil. Hardy to USDA Zone 6 (0 to 10) where it is noted as being one of the few Aloe-like plants that can be grown in that climate zone. This plant comes from steam banks, along cliffs and in grasslands below 1,000 feet in the Eastern Cape to ZwaZulu-Natal region 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 species was described by John Gilbert Baker in 1889 to honor biologist and botanical artist Marianne North (1830-1890), who painted a beautiful plein air portrait of this species and whose paintings are housed in the North Gallery at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Another common name for this plant is Octopus Torch. This species was awarded the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society in 2006. Our thanks go out to Tony Avent of Plant Delights for this plant. Tony reported seeing huge colonies of these growing in soggy soil along the edge of a cold mountain stream in Tiffendell South Africa and also noted that it performed well in his North Carolina dry sandy soil, heat and humidity.
This information about Kniphofia northiae 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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