Tritoma
Stunningly spectacular, tritoma looks like firecrackers! They are loved by pollinators but are not favored by deer and rabbits.
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Red Hot Poker |
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Kniphofia uvaria |
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Difficult to start Easy once established |
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Intermediate |
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3-5 years if properly stored |
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Perennial |
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20-30 days |
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3.5-4′ x 1-3′ |
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Full sun |
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Yes |
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365 days |
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February and September |
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Yes |
Growing Tips
Difficult to start from seed. Easy once established.
When to Start
Winter: Cold stratify seeds for 4 weeks before starting indoors. (Mid-Jan to Early-Feb) Start indoors 6-8 weeks before transplanting after all danger of frost has passed. (Mid-Feb to Mid-Mar for Jefferson, GA)
Fall: Direct sow early fall.
How to Start
Seeds benefit from cold stratification. The whole process will take about 10-12 weeks before transplanting. Start by filling the cells or pots with pre-moistened seed starting mix. So the seeds into the cells or pots to a depth of 1/4 inch. Place the cells or pots into a plastic bag. You may need to place them on some cardboard to keep the pots from tipping. Then place them in the refrigerator for 4 weeks. This will trick the seeds into thinking they have experienced a winter and will aid germination. Check on them to make sure no mold is growing.
After the 4-week cold period, remove the cells or pots from the refrigerator and place them under grow lights. Let them grow for 6-8 weeks. Pot them up as needed and keep the soil moist but not soggy. Transplant after hardening off.
Care
Kniphofia uvaria, commonly known as red-hot poker or torch lily, is an upright, clump-forming, rhizomatous perennial that is native to South Africa. Transplant into full sun and in an area that is sheltered from strong wind. Tritoma likes well-draining, rich, humusy soils. It is intolerant of wet, heavy soils. Plant 18-24 inches apart.
Buds and emerging flowers are red but mature to yellow, giving each spike a two-toned appearance. Flowers bloom from late spring to early summer. Unlike some bulbs that need to be thinned and divided every few years, Kniphofia plants are better left undisturbed once the roots are established. Remove spent flower spikes.
Trimming & Pruning:
Deadhead spent flowers in summer as they fade to encourage more flower stalks to form. If left to go to seed, the plant will slow down new flower production. Cut blooms at any time for indoor flower arranging. In late fall in warm areas, tie the leaves into a canopy over the crown to prevent water from accumulating in the center of the plant in winter. The water can cause the crown to rot. In early spring, cut the foliage back to 3 inches off the ground to clean up the plant and allow new foliage to emerge. In cold locations, cut back the foliage in late fall instead.
Seed Saving
Isolation Distance
Isolate 1/2 mile from other varieties.
Instructions
Red hot poker propagation can be done with seed or division. If you already have a big clump of plants, they will need to be divided every 3 to 5 years for better flower production. However, tritoma doesn’t like to be disturbed, so dived as little as possible.
To collect the seeds. Wait until the individual tubular blooms fall off. Once all the florets drop from the flower spike, cut off the entire stem. Pull the pods from the stems and lay them out to dry for at least 24 hours. Break open the seed pod over a dish to catch the small seeds. Let the seeds fully dry and store them in a paper bag. Remember the seeds will need to need to go through a cold stratification process before starting them indoors.
Features
- Self-sows once established
- Blooms in early summer
- Drought tolerant
- Container friendly
- Deer resistant
- Attracts bees, hummingbirds and butterflies.
- Red Hot Poker: A Hardy perennial with striking repeat blooms. They are showy, unusual, low-maintenance plants. The flower spikes range from bright red to orange, and yellow giving it it’s torch like appearance.
Tritoma benefits from 2-3 of mulch. This helps maintain soil moisture and prevent weed growth. In USDA zone 5 and 6 gardens, mulch the crown of the plant in late fall to help protect it from the cold with a 2- to 3-inch thick layer of the same bark mulch.
Sources:
Homeguides.sfgate.com
Americanmeadows.com
Thespruce.com
Gardeningknowhow.com