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.
Kniphofia 'Border Ballet' (Hot Poker Plant)
Kniphofia 'Border Ballet' is a variety of the commonly known Red Hot Poker, and is grown for its colourful flowers. Stems rise above the foliage through summer and autumn to bear showy clusters of flowers ranging in colour from orange, red, pink, yellow, and pastel. This herbaceous perennial grows as a clump, producing thin, strap-like, mid-green leaves, and typically grows to 60 cm tall and the same wide. Kniphofia 'Border Ballet' is a versatile plant that is commonly planted to attract birds, included in borders and mixed plantings, planted around the base of trees, included in riparian plantings, or mass planted either on a bank or as a groundcover.
Kniphofia 'Dwarf Scarlet' (Hot Poker Plant)
Kniphofia 'Dwarf Scarlet' is a compact perennial known for its vibrant red flower spikes that rise above neat grassy foliage. This eye catching plant adds bold colour and structure to New Zealand gardens while remaining smaller and easy to place. Flowering through the warmer months, it attracts pollinators and provides long lasting interest. Kniphofia 'Dwarf Scarlet' is ideal for borders, containers, and sunny garden beds.
