BOTANICAL: Kniphofia uvaria

COMMON: Red Hot Poker, Torch Lily, Tritoma, Flaming Swords

BLOOM: Late Spring to Early Fall depending on variety

HEIGHT: 24-42" normally 32" (80cm) tall stems are topped with flower spikes 8" (20cm) long with 1-1.5" (2-3cm) long crown tubes.

SPREAD: 24" – 36"

LIGHT: Sun

ZONE: 6-10 (Traveller Aid Society Notes: refers to Terran Climatic zones)

COLOR VARIETIES: White, Ivory, Pale Yellow, Yellow, Apricot, Orange, Scarlet, Red

TYPE: Herbacious Perrenial

COMMENTS: This species has gray-green, 3/4 inch wide leaves often stretching to 36 inches in length, which tumble into a ground level mass. Provide a rich, deep, constantly moist soil kept well-drained at all times. A winter mulch is necessary in areas of severe winters. Flaming red, orange and yellow flower heads stand on tall spikes, like torches. These unusual flowers bloom for about a month in late spring. Excellent addition to the cottage garden.

Torch Lily needs adequate room and produces spikes of brightly colored flowers. Remove the fading

flower spikes to encourage additional bloom. Do not plant the Torch Lily deeper than 3 inches. The plants need a sunny location as they are intolerant of shade. Provide a well-drained soil and abundant water during hot weather. The plant is not reliably hardy so needs winter protection. The foliage is evergreen and any dead foliage can be cut off in the spring. A possible method of over-wintering is to tie the leaves so that they cover and protect the crown of the plant. Some gardeners dig the plants each fall and store them over the winter in a cold frame or cellar. Kniphofia makes an excellent cut flower.

Propagation: Seed or division are the methods of propagation. The seed germinates in 10 to 20 days at 70 to 75 degrees. Division is done in the spring. Dividing may reduce blooming for one to three years. The divisions may be potted up until they are growing well.

CULTIVARS:

Albida

Alcazar

Alooides

Bressingham Comet

Flamenco

Folosissimum

Galpinii

Glow

Grandiflora

Hook

Moench

Pfitzer’s Hybrid

Pfitzerii

Prinrose Beauty

Shining Sceptre

Snowdenii

Springtime

Thompsonii

Tuckii

Wayside Flame

Traveller Aid Society Notes: This flower was first noted on Terra during the early Terran 18^th century in the tropical zones around the Terran equator. Terran wet navy explorers, interested in further study, brought them home to their temperate home land and found that they thrived during the summer months, but needed additional protection from winter freezes and cold weather. By the 20^th century, several Terran varieties had been cultivated. Initial theories are that early Terran space explorers left small cultivar colonies on the Melfred planet surface. These thrived in the jungle environment, much like the Terran equatorial rain forests and jungles.

Discussion of Genetics:

Normal varieties: Red, orange, yellow.

Allelle Symbols: Red: RR, Yellow: rr, Orange: Rr

There are additional iterations of the genetic offspring data that can be accomplished by the genetic student…..

White varieties appear to be a mutation linked to the male chromosome, and white is the dominant allele. Pale yellow varieties appear to be a mutation linked to the female chromosome and pale yellow is the dominant allele. When a White and a Pale Yellow variety are crossed, the resulting male variety is an Ivory coloration.

Apricot and Scarlet varieties appear to be the result of either climactic conditions or soils conditions. The Apricot is originally a Yellow variety. The Scarlet is originally a Red variety. Therefore these should not be listed as allele types in the study of this plant's genetics.