Torch Lily is one of the many species of the genus Kniphofia and shares the common name Red Hot Poker, as both have flower spikes that resemble a hot poker. It is native to South Africa. The genus name honors Johann Hieronymus Kniphof (1704-1763), a German physician and botanist. The species name means "like a bunch of grapes". Torch Lily does best in average to sandy, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. It prefers rich, humusy soils, but will not tolerate wet, heavy soils. Site in an area protected from wind and cold and promptly remove spent flower spikes. Once established, it is best not to disturb or move the plants. This plant is resistant to damage by deer and is slightly salt-tolerant. It can spread easily by means of rhizomes or seed. Divide clumps as needed. Torch Lily is an upright, clumping, flowering, evergreen perennial that is dramatic and ornamental. It has a 2-foot-tall clump of 3 inch basel leaves and 4-foot-tall flower scapes with 10-inch drooping flowers that start red but turn to yellow in summer. Plant in a cutting, pollinator or drought-tolerant garden. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No serious diseases or insect pests. Root rot in poorly-drained soils and thrips may appear in some areas. Torch Lily does not do well in cold winters and will benefit from mulch. Alternatively, you can tie the leaves together to form a canopy over the crown to prevent water from settling on the crown and freezing.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect; Spreading
Foliage
Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
18 to 24 inch tall basal tuft of coarse, linear, sword-shaped, semi-evergreen, bluish-green leaves 3 feet long and 1 inch wide.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Raceme; Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
> 6 inches
Flower detail
A succession of thick, tall, naked flower scapes with dense terminal racemes (6 to 10 inches long) of drooping, tubular flowers rise from basel leaves in late summer through early fall. 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.
Bloom time
Summer
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Southwestern and the South Cape Province of South Africa.
Distribution
Argentina, Mexico, Oregon south to California, Britain, Spain, Germany, and Turkey.