Kniphofia rooperi Cobra - Red Hot Poker

Kniphofia 'Cobra', also known as tritoma or red-hot poker, is a robust, compact, and floriferous variety whose beautiful floral spikes in warm shades attract attention without being overbearing. Its bell-shaped flowers are carried by tall stems and are grouped in dense inflorescences. They open in a lovely soft orange-copper tone with bronze reflections, slowly fade to pale-yellow, and ultimately end in a tender ivory hue, in a gradient from top to bottom of the spike. Its grass-like foliage and delicate silhouette provides structure to dense ensembles. It is an undemanding and cheerful perennial, to be planted in full sun, in well-drained soil.

Kniphofia 'Cobra' belongs to the Asphodelaceae family. This variety, like most of those we cultivate in our gardens, is a hybrid obtained by cross-breeding various species originating from South and East Africa, including K. rooperi, which it resembles. It is a perennial with fleshy rhizomes. It forms a slightly dishevelled upright tuft with tough grass-like leaves, reaching 50cm (20in) in height when flowering and 40cm (16in) in width. The flowering period is particularly long, occurring from June to September, rising well above the foliage, at 90cm (35in), on bare stems. The inflorescence, 20cm (8in) long, is nectar-rich and nectariferous. It is a dense terminal cluster of tubular and pendulous flowers, in a soft orange-copper colour that evolves over time to yellow, then cream and white. Each inflorescence remains decorative for more than 2 weeks. The medium green foliage is deciduous, composed of very long, very thin, somewhat sharp leaves, grouped in a spreading bunch.

Their exotic appearance already charmed our grandmothers. Tritomas are surprising plants, yet very sturdy. They light up any garden with their colourful torches. Kniphofia 'Cobra' is an elegant plant, tall enough to be placed among grasses. In our garden, it is planted among Deschampsia cespitosa and Stipa gigantea. It will also integrate well into a large rockery, paired with magenta red mallow, common sage, purple toadflax, and Anchusa azurea 'Loddon Royalist' with deep blue flowers. Tritomas complement light-flowering perennials well. They can also be planted in isolation, on a lawn, along a path mixing colours, or combined with bamboos, yuccas, cannas, and lobelias to create an exotic atmosphere.