Kniphofia Bee's Lemon

Description and Characteristics

Kniphofia ‘Bee’s Lemon’ is a compact, clump-forming perennial from the red hot poker family, noted for its bright lemon-yellow flower spikes and refined garden presence. Unlike traditional Kniphofias with red or orange blooms, ‘Bee’s Lemon’ stands out for its soft, cheerful colour, bringing freshness and light to summer planting schemes. Its flowers are composed of tubular florets arranged in a tight vertical spike that opens from bottom to top, creating a smooth transition from green buds to bright yellow blooms.

The strap-shaped, mid-green foliage forms a tidy, grassy clump at the base, from which emerge upright stems reaching 60–80 cm tall, with a spread of approximately 40–50 cm. Blooming from mid to late summer, ‘Bee’s Lemon’ is a beautiful mid-border perennial for sunny beds, gravel gardens, and wildlife-friendly plantings.

It’s also highly attractive to pollinators, especially bees—true to its name—and offers a cleaner, cooler colour palette for designers seeking alternatives to bold reds and oranges.

• Lemon-yellow torch-like flower spikes with greenish buds

• Height: 60–80 cm; Spread: 40–50 cm

• Flowering time: July to September

• Upright form with grass-like, clump-forming foliage

• Ideal for sunny borders, prairie gardens, and pollinator beds

• Attracts bees, butterflies, and hoverflies

Growing Conditions and Maintenance

Kniphofia ‘Bee’s Lemon’ is low-maintenance, drought-tolerant once established, and thrives in full sun with good drainage. It will perform well in a range of soil types, making it suitable for modern and traditional gardens alike.

• Light Requirements:

  • Requires full sun for best flowering

  • Will tolerate very light shade, but flower output may diminish

• Soil Preferences:

  • Prefers well-drained soil—sandy, loamy, or gravelly

  • Avoid heavy clay or consistently wet conditions, especially in winter

  • Soil pH should be neutral to slightly acidic

• Watering Needs:

  • Water regularly during the first season to establish roots

  • Once mature, it is drought-tolerant

  • Avoid overwatering or poor drainage to prevent crown rot

• Feeding:

  • Feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring

  • During flowering, a high-potash fertiliser (such as tomato feed) can extend bloom time

• Deadheading and Pruning:

  • Remove faded flower spikes promptly to encourage further blooming

  • Cut stems back to the base in late autumn or early spring

  • Trim away any dead or damaged foliage to tidy up the clump

• Winter Care:

  • Hardy in Zones 6–9 (RHS H4); apply mulch in colder regions for crown protection

  • In wet regions or clay soils, raise planting or provide sharp drainage

  • Avoid cutting back healthy green leaves too early—they help insulate the plant

• Dividing and Replanting:

  • Divide clumps every 3–4 years in spring to rejuvenate growth

  • Replant divisions immediately in well-prepared soil

Design Applications, Companion Plants, and Pollinator Benefits

Kniphofia ‘Bee’s Lemon’ brings fresh colour, vertical form, and pollinator value to a wide range of planting schemes. Its clean yellow blooms work well with both warm and cool colour palettes.

• Design Uses:

  • Excellent for cottage gardens, prairie borders, gravel gardens, and contemporary planting

  • Perfect for mid-border height, adding rhythm and movement

  • Great in repetition plantings, drifts, or narrow beds

• Companion Plants:

  • Pair with echinacea, salvia, achillea, rudbeckia, gaura, and ornamental grasses

  • Complements silver or blue foliage from Artemisia, Stachys, or Festuca glauca

  • Looks striking next to lavender or catmint for cool-toned combinations

• Pollinator Attraction:

  • Highly attractive to bees, especially bumblebees, as well as butterflies and hoverflies

  • Tubular flowers are rich in nectar and bloom during peak pollinator season

  • Great addition to wildlife-friendly and eco-conscious gardens

• Cut Flower Use:

  • Adds brightness and texture to floral arrangements

  • Cut when lower florets are open for best display

  • Long vase life when conditioned properly

• Pest and Disease Resistance:

  • Generally pest-free and disease-resistant

  • Avoid waterlogging to prevent crown or root rot

  • Deer- and rabbit-resistant

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

Click here for more information about our shipping conditions.

You can pay your online order either by credit card or via Paypal.
If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.