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red hot poker plant varieties

Red hot poker plant varieties (Kniphofia) are renowned for their bold, upright flower spikes and striking colours—fiery reds, vibrant oranges, soft yellows, and even creamy whites. Perfect for adding dramatic vertical interest to New Zealand gardens, red hot pokers are also resilient, low-maintenance, and loved by pollinators. Whether you’re creating a cottage-style border, a modern landscape, or a drought-tolerant garden, there’s a red hot poker plant variety to suit your vision.

Lagerstroemia 'Crimson Red' showy red flowers.

Lagerstroemia 'Crimson Red'

5 from 1 customers

Lagerstroemia ‘Crimson Red’ is a striking crepe myrtle renowned for its deep crimson summer flowers and attractive upright tree form. Flowering during the warmest months, it adds bold colour and structure to NZ gardens and landscapes. This variety is ideal for feature planting where strong visual impact is desired. Lagerstroemia ‘Crimson Red’ is hardy, easy to grow, and provides reliable seasonal interest with minimal maintenance.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Trees
Height: 3.00 m
Spread: 2.50 m
Flowering time: Summer
Garden uses: Hedging, Living areas, Parks, Specimen
Garden styles: Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern
photinia-super-red--1

Photinia 'Super Red' (Red Robin)

5 from 3 customers

Photinia 'Super Red' is a striking evergreen shrub known for its vibrant red new growth that contrasts beautifully with mature green foliage. This hardy plant provides year round colour and structure in NZ gardens. Ideal for hedging, screening, and feature planting, it offers a bold look and reliable performance across a wide range of garden styles.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Shrubs
Height: 3.00 m
Spread: 2.50 m
Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wind
Garden uses: Hedging, Living areas, Pool areas, Screening
Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern
Lagerstroemia 'Best Red' red flowers amidst dark purple foliage.
Lagerstroemia 'Best Red'

Lagerstroemia ‘Best Red’ is a standout crepe myrtle prized for its intense red summer flowers and strong upright tree form. Flowering through the...

From$323.65
leucothoe-curly-red-2
Leucothoe axillaris Curly Red

Leucothoe axillaris Curly Red, commonly known as Dog Hobble, is a beautiful shrub which is grown of its colourful and curly foliage. New foliage is...

From$26.15
callistemon-red-alert-4
Callistemon 'Red Alert'

Callistemon 'Red Alert' is a compact evergreen shrub admired for its brilliant red bottlebrush flowers that appear from spring into summer. The vivid...

From$27.53
Clivia miniata 'Red' plants with elegant, red flowers.
Clivia miniata 'Red' (Natal Lily)

Clivia miniata 'Red' is a striking evergreen perennial prized for its bold red trumpet shaped flowers that appear in late winter and spring. The...

From$20.01
Coprosma Red Rocks with colourful foliage in a garden.
Coprosma 'Red Rocks'

Coprosma 'Red Rocks' is a hardy NZ native shrub known for its rich red toned foliage and tough spreading habit. Naturally found in coastal...

From$11.95
leptospermum-red-damask--1
Leptospermum 'Red Damask'

Leptospermum 'Red Damask' is a striking evergreen shrub admired for its masses of rich red flowers and fine dense foliage. Flowering through spring...

From$27.53
A cluster of Hoya 'Red Buttons' purple and red flowers.
Hoya pubicalyx 'Red Button'

Hoya 'Red Button' is a popular variety of Hoya that is commonly grown as an indoor plant. It produces elongated, dark green leaves held on trailing...

From$27.53
Imperata 'Red Baron' with colourful, red foliage
Imperata Red Baron

Imperata 'Red Baron', commonly known as Japanese Blood Grass, features leaves that are green at the base and become red further up the blade. Through...

From$20.63
magnolia-red-as-red-2
Magnolia Red As Red (Red As Red Magnolia)

Magnolia Red as Red bears masses of large and showy, dark red flowers through late winter and early spring. The flowers are borne on the naked stems...

From$515.35
Photinia 'Red Robin' hedge with colourful foliage.
Photinia 'Red Robin'

Photinia ‘Red Robin’ is a popular evergreen shrub renowned for its vibrant red new growth, which contrasts beautifully with the mature glossy green...

From$26.15
Escallonia 'Red Knight' growing as a border around the base of a tree.
Escallonia 'Red Knight'

Escallonia 'Red Knight' is a vibrant evergreen shrub prized for its masses of rich red flowers and dense glossy foliage. This hardy variety produces...

From$16.95
Hypoestes 'Splash Red' plant with colourful red folaige.
Hypoestes 'Splash Red'

Hypoestes 'Splash Red' is a vibrant foliage plant prized for its bright green leaves boldly splashed with deep red markings. This compact and...

From$26.15
leptospermum-red-falls--3
Leptospermum 'Red Falls'

Leptospermum 'Red Falls' is a striking evergreen shrub admired for its cascading growth habit and masses of vibrant red flowers through spring and...

From$27.53
rhododendron-red-mountain-
Rhododendron Vireya 'Red Mountain'

Rhododendron Vireya 'Red Mountain' is a striking tropical rhododendron celebrated for its vivid red flowers and lush evergreen foliage. The colourful...

From$28.91
Carex flagellifera Red plants.
Carex flagellifera Red

Carex flagellifera Red is a NZ native, ornamental grass grown for its colourful and attractive foliage. It produces slender and lush, copper-red...

From$13.73
hebe-red-edge-
Hebe 'Red Edge'

Hebe 'Red Edge' is a compact evergreen shrub known for its distinctive foliage with red tinged edges that intensify in cooler weather, adding year...

From$20.63
Phormium 'Rainbow Red' red and purple striped foliage.
Phormium 'Rainbow Red'

Phormium 'Rainbow Red' is a vibrant New Zealand native flax admired for its bold, arching leaves in shades of bronze, red, and pink. This striking...

From$340.69
Escallonia 'Red Elf' red flowers and glossy, green foliage.
Escallonia 'Red Elf'

Escallonia 'Red Elf' is a compact evergreen shrub renowned for its vibrant red flowers and neat rounded growth habit. This attractive variety...

From$16.95
Acer palmatum 'Red Emperor' specimen tree in a mixed planting.
Acer 'Red Emperor'

Acer 'Red Emperor' is a striking Japanese maple valued for its rich deep red foliage and strong upright form. This deciduous tree performs...

From$440.80
Buddleia 'Royal Red' dark pink flowers and grey-green foliage.
Buddleia 'Royal Red'

Buddleia ‘Royal Red’ is a bold deciduous shrub celebrated for its rich red crimson flower spikes and sweet summer fragrance. Flowering over an...

From$27.53
A Loropetalum 'Red Temple' plant with dark purple-red foliage and elegant, pink flowers.
Loropetalum 'Red Temple'

Loropetalum 'Red Temple' produces mildly fragrant, pink-red flowers through winter, which are both unusual and appealing. The foliage on this bushy...

From$28.91
Leptospermum 'Electric Red' plant with red flowers.
Leptospermum 'Electric Red'

Leptospermum 'Electric Red' is a striking evergreen shrub known for its vivid red flowers that create a bold and eye catching display in spring. The...

From$27.53
pelargonium-two-in-one-dark-red-
Pelargonium Two in One Dark Red (Red Pelargonium)

Pelargonium Two In One Dark Red is a variety of Geranium grown for its clusters of dark red flowers. The showy flowers are borne through spring and...

From$22.01
camellia-roma-red-
Camellia Roma Red

Camellia 'Roma Red' is a striking evergreen shrub known for its rich red blooms and glossy green foliage. It delivers bold winter to spring colour in...

From$37.19
persicaria-microcephala-red-dragon--2
Persicaria 'Red Dragon'

Persicaria 'Red Dragon' is a striking ornamental perennial admired for its dramatic burgundy foliage marked with silver and purple tones. This eye...

From$24.77
Salvia 'Riverton Red' plant with elegant red flowers and lush, green leaves.
Salvia 'Riverton Red'

Salvia 'Riverton Red' is a striking perennial prized for its vivid red flower spikes that bloom reliably from spring through autumn. This hardy, sun...

From$27.53
Hibiscus 'Red Heart' white flower with a red centre.
Hibiscus 'Red Heart'

Hibiscus 'Red Heart' is a stunning flowering shrub admired for its large white blooms highlighted by a bold deep red centre. This eye catching...

From$27.53
acer-red-sunset-2
Acer 'Red Sunset'

Acer 'Red Sunset' is one of the finest deciduous maples for autumn colour, producing a spectacular display of brilliant scarlet and crimson foliage...

From$553.69
azalea-red-poppy-
Azalea 'Red Poppy'

Azalea 'Red Poppy' is a vibrant flowering shrub admired for its bold red blooms that create a stunning display in spring. The rich colour adds...

From$18.95
Aquilegia 'Earlybird Red and Yellow' elegant flower.
Aquilegia 'Earlybird Red and Yellow'

Aquilegia 'Earlybird Red and Yellow' is a compact perennial celebrated for its striking red and yellow bi coloured flowers that appear early in the...

From$30.29
Lagerstroemia 'Crimson Red'

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Acer, Aquilegia, Azalea, Buddleia, Callistemon, Camellia, Carex, Clivia, Coprosma, Escallonia, Hebe, Hibiscus, Hoya, Hypoestes, Imperata, Lagerstroemia, Leptospermum, Leucothoe, Loropetalum, Magnolia, Pelargonium, Persicaria, Phormium, Photinia Rhododendron and Salvia, or related Categories - Flaxes, Grasses, Indoor Plants, Perennials, Deciduous Shrubs, Evergreen Azaleas, Evergreen Shrubs, Vireya Rhododendon, Deciduous Trees Magnolia Trees and Maple Tree.

Search red hot poker plant

Discovering Red Hot Poker Plant Varieties

Kniphofias come in a surprising range of sizes and shades, making them far more versatile than many gardeners realise. Traditional red hot poker plant varieties feature tall, torch-like flower spikes in red and orange hues. But modern breeding has expanded the palette, bringing compact forms and unusual colour combinations.

Choose from stately, tall varieties for the back of a border, or shorter cultivars for edging, small gardens, and container displays. If you’re looking to diversify your planting scheme, try mixing different types to enjoy months of colour from early summer right through to autumn.

Popular Red Hot Poker Plant Varieties for New Zealand Gardens

Several exceptional red hot poker plant varieties are now available, each with unique characteristics:

These varieties share excellent drought tolerance and the ability to thrive in full sun with well-draining soil. Many red hot poker plant varieties also attract nectar-loving birds such as tuis and bellbirds, making them a valuable addition to wildlife-friendly gardens.

Combining Red Hot Poker Plants with Other Garden Features

Red hot poker plant varieties look spectacular when combined with rich, contrasting foliage. For a year-round display, consider pairing them with evergreen shrubs like Photinia Super Red (Red Robin) or ornamental foliage plants such as Leucothoe axillaris Curly Red. Their bold flower spikes also complement ornamental grasses, lavenders, and Mediterranean plants.

Spacing varieties of different heights adds layers to your garden design. Use dwarf forms at the front and taller types at the rear for the best visual effect.

Growing and Caring for Red Hot Poker Plant Varieties

Most red hot poker plant varieties are easy-care and rewarding. Plant in full sun and enrich the soil with compost before planting. These perennials perform best in well-drained positions and are surprisingly hardy once established. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage further blooms and cut back old foliage in winter for a neat appearance.

By choosing from the wide range of red hot poker plant varieties available, you can enjoy waves of fiery colour from summer to late autumn in your New Zealand garden.


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Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

Our garden favourites Duranta Geisha Girl and Chlorophytum comosum variegatum (Spider Plant) get lots of love, but don’t miss out on a few lesser-known delights: Cherry Compact Stella, Cistus lusitanicus (Rock Rose), and Feijoa 'Triumph'.
–The Plant Company

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