Yes, we are growing South African plants here in Maine. They are growing outside in the ground and we leave them out all winter. I am referring to the plants in the genus Kniphofia. I wrote a post earlier this year on Kniphofia and this is a follow up to talk about how some of them have done at CMBG this year.

I have always liked Kniphofia because they have a flower unlike any others in our northern hemisphere, east coast gardens. On the west coast, where folks are lucky enough to be able to grow aloes, then they are blessed with a spiky abundance of flowering plants. Not us, here on the coast of Maine. Let’s see… we can grow Liatris  and, and… Kniphofia. That is about it. Maybe there are others and I am sure to see it tomorrow in the garden.

Kniphofia consists of 70 different species of flowering plants native to the southern parts of the African continent. There are not a lot of plants from this area that are cold hardy so Kniphofia definitely breaks the mold. Also called red-hot pokers or torch lilies, these plants are somewhat distant relatives of day lilies. The leaves are vaguely similar but the flowers are what definitely set them apart. The spikes of red, yellow, and orange tubular flowers are eye catching to all who encounter them. The tubular flowers provide nectar to bees and small birds.