FoliageRed Hot Poker
Kniphofia uvaria
Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria) is a fast-growing perennial, hardy in USDA zones 5-9, that matures to about 3-4 ft × 2-3 ft. It does best in full sun with medium water needs in well-drained and moist soil. Expect cream, yellow and red blooms in spring and summer. It attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators, stands up well to deer, rabbits and salt.
- USDA zones
- 5-9
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
- Mature size
- 3-4 ft × 2-3 ft
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maintenance
- Medium
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist
- Bloom color
- Cream, Yellow, Red
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Attracts
- Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Pollinators
- Tough against
- Deer, Rabbits, Salt
- Native to
- South Africa
In the landscape
Data sources
Freeze survival
Will it survive your winters?
Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Red Hot Poker is hardy to about -20°F (estimated from USDA zone 5), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
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