General Culture:
Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Prefers rich, humusy soils. Intolerant of wet, heavy soils. Locate in areas protected from wind. Promptly remove spent flower spikes. Crowns benefit from winter protection in USDA Zones 5 and 6 (mulch or tie leaves together forming a canopy over the crown so as to prevent water from settling on the crown and freezing). Established clumps are best left undisturbed.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
Red-hot poker is an upright, clump-forming, rhizomatous perennial. From an 18-24" high basal tuft of coarse, sword-shaped, bluish-green, linear leaves (to 3' long and 1" wide) arises, in late spring, a succession of thick, naked flower scapes (typically to 4' tall) with dense, terminal racemes (6-10" long) of drooping, tubular flowers. Buds and emerging flowers are red, but mature to greenish-yellow. Each raceme acquires a two-toned appearance since the lower flowers open first and show yellow while the upper buds and emerging flowers show bright red. Common name refers to the purported resemblance of the flower spike to a red hot poker. Also commonly called torch lily. This species has been mostly replaced in cultivation by the many hybrids in part developed from it.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Root rot can be a problem in poorly drained soils.
Uses:
Specimen or small groups in the perennial border.
© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2010
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