Kniphofia Royal Standard - Red Hot Poker

The Kniphofia 'Royal Standard' is a classic variety of Red Hot Poker, hardy and vigorous, a reliable choice for all gardens. Its radiant spikes bear flowers that range from bright red to lemon yellow, creating a stunning two-tone effect in summer beds. They emerge from a wide and beautiful clump of long, slender decorative leaves reminiscent of grasses. It is a perennial full of cheerfulness and easy to grow in full sun, in well-drained soil. Its ornamental qualities and performance in the garden have been recognized by the Royal Horticultural Society in England.

Originally from South Africa, formerly known as Tritoma, Kniphofia is a perennial plant with fleshy roots in the Asphodelaceae family, with spectacular flowering. 'Royal Standard' is a horticultural cultivar derived from the species Kniphofia uvaria, renowned for its robustness. Its stump is capable of withstanding brief freezes of around -15°C (5°F). The plant forms a large, spreading clump every spring from its stump, composed of long, lanceolate leaves folded in half along the central vein, thick and fleshy, and bright green in colour. This particularly spreading hybrid can occupy up to 70 cm (28in) of ground space. Flowering occurs from July to September. The flower spikes can reach a height of 1.20 m (4ft). They bear a multitude of tubular and trailing flowers tightly packed in a spike. The red flower buds change colour as they open, so the spikes display two highly contrasting colours, in light red and lemon yellow. The vegetation disappears in winter.

Their exotic appearance already charmed our grandmothers. Red Hot Pokers are surprising plants, yet very sturdy, perfect candidates for cottage gardens or wildflower beds where they light up with flowers like colourful torches. Kniphofia Royal Standard will blend well into a large rockery, paired with magenta red hollyhocks, common sage, crocosmias, and Anchusa azurea 'Loddon Royalist' with deep blue flowers. They go well with lightly flowering perennials and grasses. They can also be planted individually, on a lawn, along a pathway mixing different colours, or combined with bamboo, yuccas, cannas, lobelia to create an exotic scene. Place them near water as well.