Kniphofia caulescens

[KLaban]

I just got lucky, I bought my original plants some 30 years ago at Architectural Plants and was looking for some more to plant elsewhere. I ordered totally blind online elsewhere and luckily managed to exactly replicate the originals.

[JohnH]

I am very unlucky with plants :lol:
Once mine were planted out, I must confess they didn't have the intense silver/blue appearance hoped for, but they do have what seems to be a low stem developing and stocky upright leaves.

A little annoying the only named variety of caulescens available is the uninspiring 'Coral Breakers' , the more unusual (perhaps?) 'John May' and 'Oxford Blue' seemed to have disappeared completely from the trade.

[Peadarjj]

Still waiting for this to flower, should prob give it a better spot

[JohnH]

Thanks for the heads up Keith, I thought 'Let's Go Planting' would be another of the online Garden Centre bang them in a box and hope brigade, but I was very pleasantly surprised.
As you say, perfectly packaged and, although it looks very similar to the DtoJ caulescens, it is much bigger and stockier. It will be interesting to see how they both develop, and if positioning makes a real difference to the colour.

[KLaban]

Thanks for the heads up Keith, I thought 'Let's Go Planting' would be another of the online Garden Centre bang them in a box and hope brigade, but I was very pleasantly surprised.
As you say, perfectly packaged and, although it looks very similar to the DtoJ caulescens, it is much bigger and stockier. It will be interesting to see how they both develop, and if positioning makes a real difference to the colour.

John, you're welcome. Hopefully they are from the same source and perform well for you.

Cheers.

[AndyC]

Recently tried K. uvaria 'Nobilis', first flower forming now which is dull and malformed.
The only poker I won't do without is K. rooperi, really red hot.

I take it all back. The K. uvaria 'Nobilis' has put up another flower stem, 1.8M hign and topped with a large flower head, not half bad.

[MartinNicklin]

I’m glad because it is a lovely plant.

Mine is is quite a bit of shade so grows incredibly tall but the flowers are not so deep in colour. I may split it and put some in a sunnier spot.

[JohnH]

Quick caulescens update.

Desert to Jungle plants are very blue, and quite nice, but no sign of flowers.


The Let's go Planting version is very silver (not obvious in the picture) and preparing to flower.


I rather like them both.

[KLaban]

John, both looking good!

[David F]

Keith’s plant is gorgeous, and matches the form we see here in California. But for my money, Kniphofia thompsonii is my personal favorite, plus it blooms over months, not just weeks.