Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia rooperi) RASHTRIYA KRISHI Volume 12 Issue 1 June, 2017 90-90 e ISSN–2321–7987 | Article |Visit us : www.researchjournal.co.in| Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia rooperi) Arif Hussain Wani Krishi Vigyan Kendra (SKUAST-K), Bandipora, SRINAGAR (J&K) INDIA (Email : [email protected]) Kniphofia commonly referred as torch lily or red hot uplands and mountains. Most of them are clump forming poker is a perennial flowering plant. Torch lily is an ideal and have sword-shaped, often evergreen foliage, arranged specimen or border plant, produces abundant torch like in erect rosettes. The deciduous species have narrow, flowers when planted in grassy foliage, whereas the evergreen plants often have sunny locations with moderate leaves that are folded, with a keel at the back. The genus to dry soils throughout was named after Johann Hieronymus Kniphof (1704- temperate regions of the 1763), professor of medicine at Efurt and author of a folio country. of nature-printed illustrations of plants in 1747. Many Kniphofia plant is a real cultivars have been raised, ranging in height from less architectural treasure and is than 50cm (20in) to about 1.8m (6ft) ideally suited to home and Common name : Red hot poker, torch lily large public Garden settings in Family : Asphodelaceae cool climate conditions. Kniphofia rooperi is one of the Height and spread : 1.2m (4ft) x 60cm (2ft) most distinctive kniphofias with large egg shaped, bright Form : Evergreen perennial red coloured flowers on broad and high foliage. This tall, Soil : Fertile, humus-rich, moist but well- late flowering perennial from South Africa is really one of drained, preferably sandy the highlights of the late summer to early fall. Changing Aspect : Full sun or partial shade colour as the flower matures this robust, evergreen Hardiness : Fully hardy perennial displays the deepest shades in bud and fades as Cultivation : the flower opens, resulting in bicolour look, adding – Grows in deep, fertile, humus-rich, moist but well- interesting splashes of colour to any drained, preferably sandy soil. They sunny garden. Red hot pokers are also prefer full sun but will tolerate partial well suited to naturalistic setting, water shade. edges or exotic style combinations – Mulch young plants with where several eye-catching groups are straw or leaves for the first winter. to be found. Late flowering than some – Thrips may cause of the other red-hot pokers, Kniphofia mottling of the foliage and snails can rooperi provides a superb patch of lurk and attack flower stems and brilliant colour when many of the other nearby plants. hot coloured subjects are beginning to – Alternaria, Botrytis and fade. Kniphofias are grown for their Sclerotium are the most common spikes of brightly coloured, usually diseases to infect kniphofia. orange, red, yellow or greenish-white – Violet root rot may be a flowers. problem. These are borne well above the Propagation : foliage and are attractive to bees. They look good among – The most effective way to propagate most ornamental grasses and can fit into most styles of cultivars and species is by division in early spring. gardening, from cottage gardens to ultra modern. – Seed may be sown in spring and germination is This genus contains approximately 70 species of usually rapid and easy, though cultivars will not come true. evergreen or deciduous rhizomatous perennials from southern and tropical Africa, found in moist places in the Received : 27.03.2017 Revised : 04.05.2017 Accepted : 14.05.2017 HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE.