Red-hot poker (Kniphofia 'Pineapple Popsicle')
Kniphofia 'Pineapple Popsicle' offers standout pineapple-yellow spikes. This Red-hot poker is drought-tolerant once established in sunny spots.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Kniphofia ‘Pineapple Popsicle’ is a modern hybrid cultivar celebrated for bringing vibrant vertical accents to the garden. This variety of Red-hot poker produces striking flower spikes that open in shades of pineapple-yellow, offering reliable summer color. As an herbaceous perennial, it forms neat basal clumps of strap-shaped foliage from which the flower scapes emerge.
This plant thrives when positioned in full sun, where it develops the best structure and most prolific blooms. While it appreciates consistent moisture during establishment, Kniphofia ‘Pineapple Popsicle’ exhibits good drought tolerance once mature, making it a practical choice for sustainable gardening schemes. Its architectural form makes it invaluable for adding dynamic texture among softer perennials.
Gardeners value this Red-hot poker for its showy display and relatively fuss-free nature in the right soil conditions. It reliably performs in USDA zones 6 through 8, providing a key tropical effect in temperate borders. Ensure excellent drainage to support the long-term health of your Kniphofia ‘Pineapple Popsicle’.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Asphodelaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 6-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-2 ft
- Spread: 1.5-2 ft
- Bloom Time: June to July
- Bloom Description: Pineapple-yellow
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
The best location for planting Kniphofia ‘Pineapple Popsicle’ is a site receiving full sun, although it can tolerate light afternoon shade in very hot climates. For optimum vigor, plant in humus-rich soil that drains exceptionally well. The species is intolerant of wet, heavy soils, and sharp drainage is essential, especially during winter dormancy to prevent fatal root rot.
Water requirements are dry to medium; irrigate regularly until the plant is established. After establishment, Red-hot poker is quite resilient to drier conditions. Maintain a medium maintenance schedule by promptly deadheading spent flower spikes to encourage potential rebloom and maintain a tidy appearance.
Take preventative measures when cultivating Kniphofia ‘Pineapple Popsicle’ in the cooler end of its range (Zones 5 and 6). In late fall before hard freezes, tie the leaves together to form a protective canopy over the crown, preventing standing water from freezing in the center. Applying a winter root mulch is also advisable for zone pushing. In early spring, shear the foliage back to about 3 inches above the ground to welcome new growth.
Established clumps perform best when left undisturbed. If division is entirely necessary due to overcrowding, carefully sever offsets from the periphery of the main plant, minimizing disturbance to the central rhizomes. Since this is a patented hybrid, propagation by seed is not viable, and division is the preferred method for increasing your stock.
Landscape Uses
The vertical structure provided by the Red-hot poker makes Kniphofia ‘Pineapple Popsicle’ an outstanding vertical accent in nearly any garden design. Its height of 1 to 2 feet allows it to anchor the middle or back sections of a perennial border without overwhelming shorter front-of-border plantings. It functions effectively as a specimen plant where its unique texture and late-season color can be easily appreciated.
Consider planting Kniphofia ‘Pineapple Popsicle’ in small groups of three or five to create repeating vertical punctuation throughout the landscape. These architectural spikes pair beautifully with mounding shrubs or broad-leaf perennials that contrast with their fine, linear foliage. This cultivar adds a surprising tropical flair, often complementing structures or seating areas.
When selecting companions, choose plants that also thrive in full sun and require sharp drainage, such as ornamental grasses, Lavender, or Russian Sage (Perovskia). Their fine textures blend seamlessly with the bold form of the Red-hot poker, creating a cohesive, low-water-use perennial display.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Kniphofia is a diverse genus known for its clump-forming, rhizomatous perennials featuring distinctive bottlebrush-like flower spikes that suggest its common names like torch lily. The specific cultivar ‘Pineapple Popsicle’ produces impressively bright, cream to pineapple-yellow flowers gathered in dense racemes atop tall scapes, blooming sequentially for an extended period from late spring into early fall. This plant is the result of controlled hybridization development, resulting in a patented cultivar valued for its extended garden performance.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Drought
- Dry Soil
Potential Problems
This Red-hot poker is generally recognized for having few significant insect or disease issues, which adds to its appeal. The primary concern centers on soil conditions, as root rot frequently occurs if the plant sits in wet, poorly-drained soil, especially over winter. Thrips can occasionally become a minor pest in certain regions. Deer and rabbits typically avoid browsing on the foliage. Ensure site selection prioritizes drainage to mitigate the most common cultural risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Red-hot poker suitable for?
Kniphofia ‘Pineapple Popsicle’ is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 6 through 8, though supplemental winter protection is beneficial in the lower Zone 6 areas.
How large does Red-hot poker grow?
This cultivar typically reaches a height between 1 and 2 feet tall, spreading approximately 1.5 to 2 feet wide at maturity.
When does Red-hot poker bloom?
The blooming period for Kniphofia ‘Pineapple Popsicle’ is generally from June to July, featuring its characteristic pineapple-yellow coloration.
What sun exposure does Red-hot poker need?
The ideal environment for this plant is full sun exposure to ensure robust growth and the best flowering display.
Conclusion
The Kniphofia ‘Pineapple Popsicle’ offers exceptional vertical impact with its reliable, pineapple-yellow flower spikes, making it a cornerstone for sunny, well-drained borders. Its noted drought tolerance contributes to its low-impact maintenance profile once established. Before planting, confirm your garden falls within USDA Zones 6-8 and prepare a site with excellent drainage to ensure your Red-hot poker thrives for seasons to come.
Companion Planting
When pairing plants with Kniphofia ‘Pineapple Popsicle’, prioritize species that share a love for full sun and dry to medium soil conditions. Good companions include plants that offer textural contrast, such as ornamental grasses like Stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass) or the finer foliage of Salvia nemorosa cultivars. Avoid moisture-loving plants near the base, as the Red-hot poker requires its roots to stay dry, particularly during winter rest.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Successful cultivation of Kniphofia ‘Pineapple Popsicle’ involves simple, proactive seasonal tasks. In late fall, bundle the foliage in colder zones (6/5) to protect the crown from moisture collection and freezing; apply a layer of root mulch as added insurance. Early spring is the time for cleanup: cut the old, dead foliage down to about three inches above the ground before new growth emerges. Throughout the summer, deadheading spent flower scapes can sometimes encourage a lighter, secondary flush of blooms.
