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Is my red hot poker normal?

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  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    The leaves of my Kniphofia are there but no sign of any flowers.
    It will flower later in the summer.

    Stunningly clear pic of the rush!
    Maybe Kniphofia leaves will appear. ..looks a very strong plant last year.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I think the plant in the foreground of your photo could be the rush?

    The Kniphophia could be from the Popsicle series? They are a fairly new introduction supposed to be very floriforus and long flowering.  Like alot of the small varieties they seem to be short lived and I don't think as hardy.
    Years ago you would tie up the leaves to protect the crown over winter.

    I grow two K Timothy and K Shining Septre. Both later in the season depending where you are in the UK. I now recall growing a yellow one, years ago that flowered earlier in the season but I never knew it's name.


    @Paul B3 I don't know of any that flower later than your Happy Halloween one to look out for I think.

    My favourite is K rooperi ,for a big garden, stunning.
     
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Thank you for all the replies, I really appreciate it!

    I found a tag for it hiding at the back of the flower bed 🤦‍♀️ it’s “Kniphofia Poco Orange”

    Is it possible the garden center accidentally grew the red hot poker and rush in the same pot?
    If so do you think I would be able to divide the plants from each other?

    I’ve had another look at the plant this afternoon and the back end of the plant I’ve noticed have different leaves, which I’m guessing are the red hot poker leaves? There’s also a few tiny flower heads there.



  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I would gently tease out the rush. You could have had two plants in one pot but unusual.
    Rushes like a damper soil too.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited June 2023
    @BirdHerdLiss That is your Kniphofia in the latest photo so hopefully you can work out the difference between the two plants. I would try to gently 'weed' the rush out trying not to disturb the Kniphofia. The roots of the Rush could be in the roots of the Kniphofia  but they are shallow and very distinguishable from Kniphofia roots. Yes you could have had two in one pot but unusual. 
    Try a bit of gentle wiggling
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,923
    We inherited one of the original pokers with big strappy leaves when we moved here. Just started flowering. I'm looking forward to seeing the blue tits drinking its nectar which they do most years.


    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border

    I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful

  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    They're another 'marmite' plant aren't they? I think they're gorgeous, the big ones are quite prehistoric or alien looking - I like that. 
  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,923
    Prehistoric indeed. This is what they'll look like in a week or so's time.



    And a close-up through a proper lens


    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border

    I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @LunarSea Love your photo the Kniphofia works perfectly with both the wall as a back drop and the yellow of the Philadelphus.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Thanks for all the help everyone, I had to take the plant out to be able to untangle the very tangled roots as gentle as possible, but I finally got them separated. The Kniphofia is a little sad looking now, is there anything I can do to help it bounce back after having to be disturbed and replanted?

    Also now I have to find a place for this rush, havent a clue where it’s going haha!
     

    And @LunarSea your Kniphofia are glorious 🤩
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