Kniphofia
| (Asphodelaceae/Liliaceae). Red Hot Polker. Torch lily. Genus of about 70 species of rhizomatous clump forming perennials, some evergreen, from mountainous or upland areas, often in moist places in rough grass or along streamsides in southern and tropical Africa. Needs moist soil in summer. From mid August for two months, makes a prodigious number of flower spikes which are erect, dense, spike-like racemes of numerous pendent tubular or cylindrical flowers. They are attractive to bees. Arching, basal, tufted linear to strap shaped leaves of medium green leaves and provide a strong vertical accent in any garden. The deciduous varieties are usually thin and grass-like, in evergreens they are broader, keeled or strap shaped.
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