When it arrives
Your plug tray
Pot 72-cell plugs into 4-inch pots and grow on until well rooted, then plant in spring so they have a full season before winter. Don't keep them wet.
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Lavender companion · grow guide
Red Hot Poker · Kniphofia
Red hot pokers want full sun and soil that drains well, especially in winter. Wet winter soil is the main reason they fail; in good drainage they bloom for years and draw hummingbirds.
Check my zone & planting dates
Full sunLight
Low waterFast drainage
pH 6.0–7.5Soil
Zones 6a–9bHardiness
36″ tall24″ wide
ResistantDeer · rabbits resistant
Not known toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Rocket's Red Glare will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 6a–9b
Spring is best in cold regions so roots establish before winter.
Your year with Rocket's Red Glare
When it arrives
Pot 72-cell plugs into 4-inch pots and grow on until well rooted, then plant in spring so they have a full season before winter. Don't keep them wet.
Spring is best in cold regions so roots establish before winter.
Set the crown no more than about an inch below the soil surface; deeper planting invites rot.
18–24 inches apart.
Well-drained loam or sandy soil with organic matter · pH 6.0–7.5
Fix-it tip: Avoid heavy clay. Mix in compost and grit, or plant on a mound or slope so the crown never sits wet.
Full sun (tolerates light part shade in hot climates).
Six or more hours of sun gives the most flower spikes.
Don’t give up on it
Grassy leaves appear from the crown in mid-spring. In cold areas the old foliage may look dead and mushy after winter; new green shoots from the center are a good sign.
Cut back old leaves to 3 inches once new growth shows.
Bloom spikes; deadhead to the base.
Tie foliage up over the crown; mulch roots.
Keep the crown dry.
First season: Water weekly the first summer; keep moist but not soggy.
After that: Drought tolerant once established; water in long dry spells for better bloom.
Light feeder; compost in spring is enough.
Cut spent spikes at the base to encourage more blooms. Leave foliage over winter and cut it to about 3 inches in early spring.
Rarely needed; avoid disturbing clumps. Remove offsets from the edge if needed.
Hardy to about zone 5. Leave foliage on and tie it together over the crown to shed water; mulch roots, and make sure drainage is good.
Takes heat well; blooms mid to late summer depending on variety.
Plant didn't return after winterLikely cause: Crown rot from wet soil
What to do: Replant in fast-draining soil and tie leaves over the crown in fall
No flowersLikely cause: Young plant, too much shade or overcrowding
What to do: Give full sun; be patient a year
Streaked or distorted flowersLikely cause: Thrips
What to do: Remove affected spikes; usually minor
Yellowing leaves and a soft, smelly crown mean root rot from wet soil; browning leaf tips in summer mean it's dry.
NC State Extension lists it as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses; not on the ASPCA toxic list.
Deer: resistant · Rabbits: resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
Good in pots · 3 gallon+
Use a gritty mix. Move pots to an unheated garage for winter in cold zones.
Outdoor plant
Needs full sun and winter dormancy outdoors.
Best after a cold winter
Established clumps bloom more freely after a normal winter; young plants may skip a year.
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 3 gallon potTime to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Plant it right alongside lavender
Good partner in a sunny, well-drained bed. Both hate wet winter soil, and the orange and yellow spikes contrast strongly with lavender's purple.
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