About Kniphofia uvaria (L.) Oken
Kniphofia uvaria (L.) Oken is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae. It is commonly called tritomea, torch lily, or red hot poker, named for the shape and color of its inflorescence. Its leaves have a similar appearance to lily leaves, and the flowerhead can grow up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall. There are many varieties of torch lily, which bloom at different times throughout the growing season. The flowers of this species come in red, orange, and yellow. This plant is originally from Cape Province, South Africa. It has been introduced to many regions across the world, including North America, Australia, New Zealand, Patagonia, and Europe, where it is grown as a garden plant. It is winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 5–10. In parts of south-eastern Australia, specifically the Central and Southern Tablelands of New South Wales and southern Victoria, the species has escaped cultivation and become naturalized. It is currently classified as an environmental weed in these areas, where it spreads from former inhabited sites into natural areas, forms thick clumps, and threatens sensitive ecosystems. In other parts of southern Australia, it is considered a potential environmental weed, and it may have also naturalized in parts of South Australia and California. It can also be found growing in the Kumaon Himalayas of India, where it was likely introduced during British colonial rule.
