Kniphofia 'Flamenco'

Description and Characteristics

Kniphofia ‘Flamenco’ is a striking compact hybrid variety of red hot poker, well-known for its vibrant colour blend and long flowering period. This variety produces flower spikes in warm tones of red, orange, coral, and yellow, fading from top to bottom like a flickering flame—hence the name ‘Flamenco’. With its tidy size and prolific bloom habit, it’s perfect for adding bold, upright interest to a wide range of garden settings.

Growing to around 60–80 cm in height with a spread of 45–60 cm, ‘Flamenco’ is excellent for mid-border placement, small gardens, or container displays. It flowers from early summer into early autumn, providing months of brilliant colour. Like other Kniphofias, it features a dense clump of arching, grass-like green foliage, offering texture and structural value even when not in bloom.

In addition to its ornamental appeal, ‘Flamenco’ is highly attractive to pollinators, especially bees and butterflies, and is resistant to deer and rabbits.

• Spikes of flame-coloured flowers: red, orange, coral, and yellow

• Height: 60–80 cm; Spread: 45–60 cm

• Long flowering season: June to September

• Clump-forming with slender, arching green foliage

• Great for pollinator gardens, small borders, and containers

• RHS Award of Garden Merit winner for reliability and performance

Growing Conditions and Maintenance

Kniphofia ‘Flamenco’ is a resilient perennial that thrives in full sun and free-draining soil. It is drought-tolerant once established and performs best when not crowded by surrounding plants.

• Light Requirements:

  • Requires full sun for vigorous growth and flowering

  • Will tolerate very light partial shade, though blooms may be fewer

• Soil Preferences:

  • Grows best in well-drained, moderately fertile soil

  • Adaptable to sandy, loamy, or chalky soils

  • Avoid heavy clay or waterlogged areas—improve drainage if needed

• Watering Needs:

  • Water regularly during the first season to establish roots

  • Thereafter, drought-tolerant

  • Avoid watering the crown in winter to reduce the risk of rot

• Feeding:

  • Feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring to promote blooming

  • Apply a high-potash fertiliser (e.g. tomato feed) in mid-season if flowering slows

• Deadheading and Pruning:

  • Deadhead spent flower spikes regularly to encourage new blooms

  • In late autumn, cut back flower stems and tidy foliage

  • Do not cut foliage too early; it protects the crown in winter

• Winter Care:

  • Hardy in Zones 6–9 (RHS H4); mulch in colder areas to protect the crown

  • In wet or frost-prone regions, lift and store clumps or grow in containers and overwinter under cover

• Dividing and Replanting:

  • Divide clumps every 3–4 years in early spring or after flowering in late summer

  • Helps maintain vigour and increases flowering

Garden Use, Companion Plants, and Pollinator Benefits

Kniphofia ‘Flamenco’ brings heat and movement to the garden with its flame-coloured blooms and upright form. It’s ideal for cottage gardens, Mediterranean planting, and prairie-style borders.

• Design Applications:

  • Excellent for mixed perennial beds, gravel gardens, and wildlife-friendly planting schemes

  • Striking in repetition plantings or as a mid-border feature

  • Compact size suits urban gardens and patio containers

• Companion Plants:

  • Pairs well with echinacea, rudbeckia, salvias, gaura, crocosmia, and ornamental grasses

  • Contrasts effectively with blue-flowered plants like Perovskia or Nepeta

  • Blends beautifully with silver foliage (e.g., Stachys, Artemisia) and upright verbascums

• Pollinator Attraction:

  • Rich in nectar—especially attractive to bees, butterflies, and hoverflies

  • Long bloom period supports pollinators well into late summer

  • Valuable component in ecological and pollinator-focused plantings

• Cut Flower Use:

  • Tall, flame-like blooms add height and colour to floral arrangements

  • Harvest when half the florets have opened for best vase life

• Pest and Disease Resistance:

  • Deer- and rabbit-resistant

  • Rarely troubled by pests or diseases

  • Ensure good drainage to avoid root or crown rot in wet winters

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.