Originating nearly 20 years ago from a Silverhill Seed order, this hard-to-find nearly white blooming Kniphofia is a welcome choice for enthusiasts seeking light-hued Torches. The dense ovoid-shaped inflorescences showcase spectacular pearly yellow blooms that sway above strong green stalks and green glaucous blades. Though sadly losing ground due to cattle grazing in its native South African haunts, Kniphofia albescens can easily be ushered into your garden, where it promises luminous accents, especially when superimposed against Salvia corrugata’s dark textured leaves and blue floral whorls.

Blooms July–September

Size: 3' 0" – 3-1/2' high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Alcazar is a Spanish translation of the Arabic word for castle, and this luscious Kniphofia deserves royal treatment for its splen­­­­­did show. From a nest of lance-like leaves, chartreuse-tinted buds elongate on thick bron­zy stems to form majestic tapered spires of a dark rosy terracotta, which age to rich salmon orange. Pair with Phlomis russeliana and enjoy the lively tango of color and form.

Blooms July–September

Size: 3-1/2' high x 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Escape the dog days of summer with the refreshing cool-toned flowers of this smaller statured Kniphofia. Adopting a fine textured aspect, narrow arching grass-green leaves plus lean stalks present lime-green buds and close-knit lemon-yellow blooms. Enjoyed by bees, butterflies and gardeners, ‘Bees’ Lemon’ assures long-lasting late season color that easily partners with Eryngium ‘Donard Variety’ and Rudbeckia ‘Viette’s Little Suzy’.

Blooms July–September

Size: 2' 0" – 3' 0" high x 18" – 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

Tall henna-infused stalks, sprouting bountiful yellow-orange flower spikes above a tame gray-green-leafed base are the hallmark of this energetic Kniphofia. ‘Bee’s Sunset’ will lend an enduring warm glow to neighbors such as Buddleja ‘Honeycomb’, Lavandula ‘Royal Velvet’ and Geranium ‘Rosemoor’.

Blooms June–August

Size: 4' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 5.

Not all bleached blondes turn heads like this one does. Blooms of sandy blonde topped with auburn adorn this softly colored beauty. Anchored by vigorous medium green, bladelike foliage, slim 5 in. long flowers have a repeat bloom, imparting greenish yellow shades at summer’s end.

First introduced by Olympic Coast Gardens, ‘Bleached Blonde’ can be matched with Phygelius ‘Pink Elf’.

Blooms June & again in August.

Size: 3' 0" – 4' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

Like many of the best ballet dancers, this cultivar is tall, elegant and full of stamina. We found this selection at Western Hills and have propagated it by divisions to maintain the soft dusty coral color of the flowers, which continue blooming throughout the summer. For a contrast of color and texture, we often plant this near Thalictrum rochebrunianum.

Blooms June–August.

Size: 4-1/2' high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

Graceful copper-tinged stems emerge from a refined, narrow-bladed, green-gray base. Awash in yellow with amber and bronze accents, the slender sunny blooms set its diminutive silhouette aglow.

Blooms July–August.

Size: 2' 0" high x 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

The narrow leaves of this seedling selection are in sharp contrast to the large straplike foliage typical of the species. Glaucous blue blades make a dramatic base for the subdued rainbow of earthy colors: thick, coppery flower stems, clay-colored buds and rich terracotta blooms, which eventually pale to a light greenish yellow. For more drama, plant by Caryopteris incana and Achillea ‘Inca Gold’.

Blooms July–August.

Size: 4' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

One of our own seedling selections, this stunning form of Kniphofia citrina will surely brighten your garden with a refreshing splash of citrus color. Above clumps of glaucous leaves, the vivid lime green buds open into dense chartreuse flowers that later fade to light yellow.

Blooms June–July.

Size: 2-1/2' high x 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Distinguished by seductive dark bronzy hues and tapered bases, this Kniphofia’s broad flower heads evoke mysterious images. As the close-knit, 6 to 10 in. long pokers mature, they gradually lighten, imparting rich copper colors and creamy yellows on sturdy stems above a coarse basal tuft of sword-shaped bluish green leaves.

A Blooms of Bressingham introduction, ‘Cobra’ promises toasty easy-to-blend shades that can be associated with Agastache ‘Black Adder’ and Eryngium bourgatii.

Blooms July–August.

Size: 3' 0" – 3-1/2' high x 2' 0" – 2-1/2' wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

This rarely cultivated robust form comes to us from the U.C. Davis Arboretum. Cresting tall stalks, basally adorned with coarse sword-like leaves, the spiky flowers are a pinkish melon. Create coral reefs in your own backyard by planting it in drifts with Phygelius ‘Moonraker’ and bronze-hued Stipa arundinacea.

Blooms May–July

Size: 4' 0" high x 4' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 5.

Counting orioles, hummingbirds, and studied gardeners among its fans, ‘Dorset Sentry’ brandishes big fat green buds and even larger plump acid yellow torches on beefy, bronze-toned upright stalks. A green bed of toothed bladelike leaves anchors the sun-struck blooms that last for months and bridge the gap between summer and fall. Selected by a John May, this moderately sized Kniphofia breathes enthused late season energy into the garden and can flank a pathway, stand sentinel at a threshold, or occupy a midborder position.

Blooms July–September.

Size: 3' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Alighting slender stems, these dainty flowers smoulder with fervent salmon and saturated orange. A foundation of finely textured grass-like foliage hosts the loosely arranged blooms, which are quieted by dusky hued unopened buds and smoky purple-tipped individual florets. Projecting a vivacious yet sophisticated demeanor, 'Orange Flame' makes a compelling container subject.

Blooms July–August.

Size: 15" – 2' 0" high x 15" – 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

When the bronzed apricot buds finally unfurl into lucent golden orange torches that seem to glow from within, we promise you'll be glad. Numerous, cinnamon-toned sturdy stalks are unleashed from a midsized roost of creased grayish green leaves margined with tiny teeth. Rotund and broad in the middle, the substantial flowers convey a free wheeling radiance.

Blooms July – August

Size: 2' 0" – 3' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

Once this Kniphofia blooms, you’ll see why it was dubbed ‘Glow’. Solidly colored coral torches honed with dark rosy overtones shine above a handsome, not–so-tall, foliar foundation distinguished by composed blue-green hues and tiny teeth along each leaf margin. Sized just right for a front row location in the border or a smaller garden. ‘Glow’ imparts a flashy propensity, especially when Geranium harveyi and Eucomis ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ are planted nearby.

Blooms July–August.

Size: 2' 0" – 3' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

Conjuring images of cheerful yellow songbirds, this spirited Kniphofia is aptly named. Rising from narrow and glaucous medium green blades, the sturdy, yet graceful stems support good-sized cylindrical blooms. Each inflorescence consists of delicate florets—long, slender and pendulous—arranged in an airy fashion. Bring a sunny lift to your summer border and site ‘Goldfinch’ by Liatris ‘Kobold’ and Salvia ‘Sensation Rose.

Blooms June–early August.

Size: 4' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Long esteemed by Beth Chatto who introduced it in 1968, this captivating Kniphofia first originated as a seedling selection in Sir Cedric Morris’s Suffolk garden. Showy long cylinders in icy lime-green shades impart a distinguished sense of composure and are without a doubt the greenest Torch Lily blooms we offer. Opening from green buds above broad verdurous blades and stalwart stems, the densely packed, irresistibly colored florets are crowned with a dusky-orange tuft and eventually lighten to a creamy chartreuse from the bottom up.

Blooms July–September

Size: 4' 0" – 4-1/2' high x 2-1/2' wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

Selected by Alan Bloom, this upright cultivar is remarkably robust. The deep green foliage is wide and strap-like, the flower stalks are thick and hefty, and the vibrant chartreuse buds unveil 6 in. lime-yellow blooms, which fade to light yellow. We plant ‘Ice Queen’ with Molinia ‘Heidebraut’s late season misty-looking blossoms for an unusual but delightful combination.

Blooms June–August

Size: 4' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

Long, upright green blades hurl a lucent flurry of prismatic coral-melon-colored buds plus elongated, vivid reddish orange pokers trimmed with creamy apricot-hued bases. A sought-after AGM winner raised by British plantsman Bob Brown in 2006, ‘Incandesce’s tall, flaming mien dazzles neighbors like Nepeta latifolia.

Blooms July–September

Size: 3' 0" high x 18" – 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

Flaunting one of the brightest, most rotund torches we have ever seen, this jaunty Kniphofia was discovered by Gretchen Hahn, a former staff member, in the backyard of a local north coast resident. Unknown to us and most likely a hybrid of Kniphofia uvaria ‘Nobilis’ which has naturalized in our area, it bears the owner’s namesake. The large radiant florets graduate in color, beginning on top with a salmon hue that shades to tangerine and then transmutes to antique gold supported by a lemon-yellow base.

Bolstered on bronzed olive-tinted stems above brawny medium green leaves, the exuberant display can be staged alongside Eucomis ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ for unbridled oohs and awhs!

Blooms August – September.

Size: 3' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

An illustrious contender for the late season border, ‘Light of the World’ boasts showy, long slender torches. Green-tinged buds open to reveal dainty flared, pendulous florets lit in lucent tangerine orange shades. Pointed, low growing grassy leaves with pale midribs ground this small-statured, first-rate Kniphofia, which can be granted a front row seat accompanied by Nepeta ‘Little Trudy’.

Blooms September.

Size: 2' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Large, pumpkin-colored flower buds seem to glow atop the thick purplish stems of this robust species. Visually supported by broad straplike foliage, the enormous, nearly round orange flowers eventually fade to yellow at the base. Combine with Aster ‘Lady in Black’ and Salvia ‘Limelight’ for a stunning display of purple, chartreuse and orange.

Blooms August–September.

Size: 6' 0" high x 4' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

This toasty-hued, perky cultivar first caught our eye at Cotswald Garden Flowers, owned by Bob Brown, England’s renown Kniphofia enthusiast. It has since become one of our favorites for its long and slender, loosely set racemes. Tipped with burnt coral tones, the blooms fade to melon in the middle and finally brighten to a creamy yellowish sherbet base, which features larger, more pendant florets. The colorful splendor bursts forth from earthy red and greenish-tinged buds elevated on supple, slightly bronzed stems above green foliage.

Blooms July–August.

Size: 3' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

With ample-sized blossoms and a medium-sized profile, this exuberant Kniphofia is ideal for smaller gardens. Stiff jade-toned narrow blades and lusty bronze green stems support moss-hued tapering buds and bright yellow flowers. A subtle apricot cast suffuses the lit up torches, which feature pendulous evenly spaced close-set florets and promise a colorful presence throughout most of the summer.

Blooms June–July.

Size: 2' 0" – 2-1/2' high x 18" – 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

Earning copious kudos in the 2010 RHS trials and an honored AGM, ‘Moonstone’ hoists droves of caramel-colored buds and large lambent torches crowded with apricot and amber-hued tubular florets that age to a creamy lemon. Steadfast cinnamon-toned stalks and slim, fleshy green leaves support the cozy-looking summer display. Well-sized for a midborder position, this flower-laden Kniphofia can be peppered amid Perovskia ‘Lacey Blue’, Salvia ‘Compton’s Form’ and Crocosmia ‘Paul’s Best Yellow’.

Blooms June–August

Size: 3' 0" high x 18" – 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Looking for a midsized plant to accentuate a hot-colored border or ignite a cooler one? ‘Nancy’s Red’ may be your girl. Delicate olive-green stems lift brick-red buds and waxed, dusky coral-red florets, which become more pendulous with age, flaring out to reveal creamy-yellow tips. Shaded in such rich colors, the slender, somewhat open cone-shaped blooms achieve an ardent contrast against low growing, narrow green leaves. Clearly in a class of her own—undemanding, refined and well-groomed—Nancy gives you good reason to entice her into your garden bed and keep her where she’s easily seen.

Blooms July-August

Size: 2' 0" high x 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

We found this upbeat, not-yet-identified Kniphofia at Ernie and Marietta O’Byrne’s Northwest Garden Nursery in Eugene, Oregon. Originating from seed they had collected in Naudes Nek, a rather cold region of South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountains, it conveys a lighthearted charm with narrow, bright green channelled foliage and an intriguing floral display. Round-tipped, squat buds exhibit a glowing potpourri of colors from top to bottom: earthy brownish orange with chartreuse tinges, an amber midsection and a golden yellow base. The buoyant blooms elongate on slender green stems and turn more tangerine as they mature, showing off a happy face amid Thymus ‘Archer’s Gold’ and Geums.

Blooms August.

Size: 4' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Upstaging many a perennial in the summer border, this svelte temptress celebrates AGM status, sophisticated hues and a refined stance. Burnt coral buds offer a surprise as they elongate to narrow, 7 in. long cream-colored spears that subtly transmute warm orange and amber shades near their tops.

Bred by Eric Smith at Buckshaw Gardens, ‘Painted Lady’s long blooming gala is supported by strong bronzy green stems and a lower growing green base.

Blooms June – August.

Size: 3' 0" high x 2-1/2' wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Originally inhabiting the marshy grasslands of Kwazula-Natal, South Africa, this Ariel-like Kniphofia is sadly extinct in its wild haunts, but will gladly impart a lighthearted smile to your landscape.

Slim grassy blades folded along the midribs are the understory for airy and slender, buttercup yellow pokers. Tubular, flared and widely spaced, the dainty pendant florets open from coral buds for several months, then rebloom later in the season.

Blooms June–July.

Size: 18" high x 15" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

The tightly clustered light yellow to lime flowers of this Torch Lily are just about the largest of all the Kniphofias we offer. They bloom several times each year, and contrast strikingly with the 1 in. wide strapping green leaves. For a provincial color combination, we pair ‘Percy’s Pride’ with Geranium ‘Sabani Blue’

Blooms May–June

Size: 3' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

Uniquely infused with a strawberry hue, the slender, creamy tapers of bloom are anchored by thin grassy green blades. ‘Safranvogel’s distinctive coloring and small stance begs for an up-front position in the border.

Blooms July–August.

Size: 2' 0" high x 20" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

We have British Kniphofia aficionado, Bob Brown of Cotswald Garden Flowers to thank for this ethereal beauty. Staged on lithe bronzed stems, the distinctive flowers feature widely spaced, rich reddish coral florets, each narrow, pendulous tube tinged yellow at the base and curved up at the tips.

The aging long, slender blooms lighten and become even more open, attaining an unmatched delicacy and lovely subtle coloration that’s reminiscent of its ‘Safranvogel’ heritage. Quiet, sublime and almost other-worldly, this unusual cross is shown to best effect when planted in multiples against a dark background.

Blooms July–August.

Size: 2' 0" high x 15" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Noble stands of copper-tinted golden scepters command our attention in the midsummer border. Supported by soothing green blades and long bronze-hued stems, these thickset, good-sized blooms cast lambent accents upon the cool, blue-violet flowers of Aconitum ‘Arendsii’ and Geranium ‘Phillipe Vapelle’.

Blooms July–August.

Size: 4' 0" high x 18" – 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

When we came across this extraordinary Kniphofia in Patricia Marrow’s garden in Somerset, England, it was mysteriously unlabeled. Stout, bronzy flowering stems with lime-colored buds rise above rosettes of narrow grayish green foliage. Lively and large, the greenish yellow blooms are tipped with a dusky melon color, and eventually fade to creamy white from the base up.

Blend with Nepeta ‘Pool Bank’, Cistus ‘Anne Palmer’ and Euphorbia ‘Great Dixter’ for a vibrant spectrum of color.

Blooms July–August.

Size: 4' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Named for the British nursery that introduced it, this AGM recipient pledges dense slender 8 in. long tapers defined by chartreuse buds plus warm yellow flowers, aging with deep amber and golden tones. The exuberant long-blooming inflorescences perch above thick plucky bluish green stalks and a vigorous nest of wide blade-like glaucous green leaves.

Blooms June–July

Size: 3' 0" – 4' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Zone 6/7.

A medium green rosette of stiff, strappy foliage unleashes ‘Tawny King’s burly, dark olive and copper-toned stalks. Aptly named, the tawny-laced buds unveil countless, long-blooming soft orange tubular flowers, which lighten to cream as they age, creating a dramatic bicolored effect. Raised by John May, this towering AGM victor can be planted midborder and teamed with Dahlia ‘Bishop of Oxford’ for a spirited summer frolic. 

Blooms July–September

Size: 4' 0" – 5' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

The long summer-time parade of stunning sunset-laden blooms poised on stately 4 ft. tall bronze-soaked stalks undoubtedly earned ‘Timothy’ a coveted RHS Award of Garden Merit. Grounded by neat narrow-leafed low clumps, this highly acclaimed cold-hardy Kniphofia brandishes dark coral pink torches, which turn cream with age and look fabulous when planted near Lavandula ‘Purple Ellagance’, Salvia ‘Black and Blue’ and Aster ‘Bluebird’

Blooms July–September

Size: 4' 0" high x 18" – 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

Sun-kissed torches, a compact habit and an exceptionally long flowering period earn this well-mannered Kniphofia a chance to illuminate our border. Verdant low growing foliage makes a fine textured base for supple green stalks and green-tinged yellow buds, which mature into splendid 5 in. blooms, creamy yellow on top and alabaster white below.

Introduced by Georgia’s Richard Saul, small-statured ‘Candle Light’ can be showcased in the frontlines along with Echinops ‘Blue Glow’ for a spirited match. (pp#12,342)

Blooms May – October.

Size: 2' 0" – 2-1/2' high x 2' 0" – 2-1/2' wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

Shouldered by thick green stalks, the richly colored, bright yellow blooms combine with this Kniphofia’s robust stature to bestow a grandiose presence in the border. Composed of large, pendulous, evenly spaced florets that open from grassy green buds, the ample-sized torches radiate unforgettable, look-at-me, sunlit chroma, while topping sprightly green, strapping blades.

Blooms May–July.

Size: 3' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Famed horticulturist Luther Burbank, gardening at his residence in Santa Rosa, California until 1926, selected this golden beacon that's guaranteed to brighten summer's end. A verdant stocky thicket of upright dark green foliar blades hurls forth strong olive bronze stems and big plump pokers. The gregarious densely set blooms first emerge with a lime-infused somewhat triangular shape, then take on rich yellow hues and a rounder appearance upon maturity. Cohorts such as Helianthus 'Dakota Queen' or Artemisia 'Huntington Gardens' make for a statuesque pageant.

Blooms July–September.

Size: 4' 0" – 5' 0" high x 2-1/2' – 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Slender blooms in a soft shade of pale yellow are staged well above finely textured foliage. This courtly Kniphofia echoes ornamental grasses such as Panicum and makes a friendly color-mate for Eupatoriums and Geraniums.

Blooms July–September.

Size: 3' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

Like a candle flame, this flower is both bright and yet soft orange. To give our summer garden warm accents, we plant robust ‘Wayside Flame’ near Lavandula ‘Silver Frost’.

Blooms June–August.

Size: 4-1/2' high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

The superb scarlet-red blooms of this British raised cultivar are deemed the deepest and darkest red of all Kniphofia blooms in cultivation. A gorgeous profusion of slender fiery hued flowers enlivens the landscape all summer long, while the bushy small-sized mound of shiny dark green grassy blades assures a refined habit that easily tucks into space thrifty gardens.

Blooms June–August.

Size: 2' 0" high x 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Bolstered by staunch, tall and straight asparagus-hued stalks, dense yellowish orange buds, infused with chartreuse, remind us of miniature Christmas trees. Radiant yellow, pumpkin tones and lime tinges meld an unparalleled luminosity as the gorgeous torches stand sentinel, their plump rounded bases tapering to blunt tips high above an upright bright green clump of brawny, deeply furrowed lax leaves. A robust specimen for the fall garden, ‘Yellow Cheer’s late season effervescence steals the show, especially when staged against a dark green foil.

Blooms late August–mid-October

Size: 5' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

This rarely offered Kniphofia is a favorite of songbirds and hummingbirds, and is earlier to bloom than most Torch Lilies. Large nectar-rich, well-formed lemon yellow heads unfurl from acid green buds on tall sturdy stalks above an easily maintained medium green bed of narrow arching evergreen foliage. 'Yellow Hammer', possibly named after a small Eurasian yellow-breasted bird, can be nestled alongside Euphorbia 'John Tomlinson' for foliar contrast and melding flower colors.

Blooms late May–June.

Size: 3' 0" – 3-1/2' high x 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.