Winter Poker – 10 Seeds

Winter Poker (Kniphofia rooperi) is a robust, evergreen perennial, which grows in groups up to 1.4 m tall. The dull green, spreading leaves are deeply keeled and the flowers appear as dense, round inflorescences. The stem is long and strong. The buds when young range in color from bright red, orange-yellow or greenish. The flowers are about 42 mm long and range in color from orange-red to yellow-green.

The nectar-rich flowers attract insects such as bees and butterflies. The plant is used in traditional medicine to treat chest complaints. This evergreen, fast-growing perennial does best in sandy soil which is moist, but drains well.

Common Names: Winter poker, Rooper’s red-hot poker, lentevuurpyl and icacane.

Growing Winter Poker

Indoor Sowing: Spring and Autumn.

Direct Sowing: Spring and Autumn.

• Sow the seeds in a seed tray filled with a commercial seedling mixture and cover with about 2 mm of the mixture.
• Water well and keep the tray in a shady spot until the seed germinates in about 2 weeks – 45 days.
• When the seedlings have 3 or 4 leaves, pot them up in bags to grow on until large enough to transplant into the garden.
• They can then be planted in the garden in a sunny, well-drained position.
• The first flowers will appear after the plant is about 2 years old.