Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Rocket's Red Glare Red Hot Poker: Torches Behind the Lavender
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Rocket's Red Glare red hot poker sends up extra-long, club-shaped spikes with warm red buds at the top that open into creamy peach tubular flowers toward the bottom. Each torch shades from fiery red to soft peach, and several rise together above a clump of arching, grassy leaves. Cut the spent spikes and more follow, so the show runs well into the season.
Rocket's Red Glare at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Kniphofia 'Rocket's Red Glare' |
| Flowers | Warm red buds opening to creamy peach, on long spikes |
| Foliage | Green, grassy and mostly upright |
| Size | 30 to 36 inches tall in flower, 18 to 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late June, peaks mid-July, repeats when deadheaded |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 6 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators; hummingbirds love it |
A bold vertical for a soft bed
Lavender is all rounded mounds and fine spikes. Red hot poker brings stout, upright torches and a strong warm color, which keeps a long lavender border from looking too uniform. Plant it in groups of three behind the lavender, where the torches can rise above the purple from late June on.
The two agree on the essentials: full sun and lean, sharply drained soil. Red hot poker handles drought once established and rots in soggy winter soil, the same as lavender, so if your lavender is thriving, the spot is probably right for this one too. Check spacing in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Site: full sun in lean to average, well-drained soil. A slope or raised bed is ideal.
- Water: regularly the first season, then sparingly.
- Deadheading: cut each spent spike at the base to encourage more flowers over a long season.
- Problems: mostly trouble-free; crown rot in poorly drained soil is the main risk.
Getting it through a Michigan winter
Much of Michigan sits at the cold end of this plant's range, so siting matters. Choose a sheltered, sharply drained spot, such as near a south-facing wall. Leave the foliage standing over winter; it helps protect the crown. Add a mulch after the ground freezes, then tidy the old leaves in spring as new growth starts. Find your zone with the USDA Zone Finder.
Tray or bare root
It is offered as a full 72-cell plug tray and as a bare root plant. Plant in spring or early summer so roots are settled before winter. See each product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Is it good for cutting?
Yes. The torches rate good as cut flowers and make a striking vase with late lavender and grasses.
Do deer and rabbits eat it?
They seldom bother it, which makes it a useful partner for lavender in open gardens.
Why are the leaves floppy in spring?
Last year's foliage looks tired after winter. Trim it away once new shoots appear; the fresh leaves are mostly upright.
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