Kniphofia caulescens

[MartinNicklin]

David, do you see much of Kniphofia multiflora over there? It's the one I'd love to get my hands on but, as you never see it over here, I don't know much about how good a "doer" it is. Images of it look so impressive. I've toyed with buying seeds from the very few places which supply them but I read they need to be fresh and, unfortunately, this is often far from guaranteed from seed merchants nowadays. Have you grown it from seed and, if so, how straightforward is it?

[Chad]

Martin,

RHS list three suppliers for Kniphofia multiflora 'November Glory' which is, I think, a selection from within the 'straight' species.

Chad

[MartinNicklin]

Yes Chad I have seen this but the plant looks about as far removed from the straight multiflora species as you can get. What appeals to me with multiflora are the extremely slender and very tall spikes as well as the yellowy/greeny/creamy colour. November Glory looks like the bog standard yellow and red pokers, generally widely available. I can get the seeds from a German supplier but they work out quite expensive for very few seeds which may not germinate. As I say, I read that the seeds need to be fresh for this species so it seems pointless unless there is a guarantee of freshness which many seed merchants do not offer. Their cop out is generally that seeds and plants are living things so it all depends on you as the grower, never them as the supplier! I'm guessing that multiflora is either too tender or too fussy to be a viable seller in the UK which is a pity because it looks so magnificent.

[JohnH]

I think you are right Martin, many of the more unusual species are too tender, too prone to disease or simply flower too late to be worth growing by nurseries in the UK.

CGF used to grow an enormous range of pokers, but when I asked a couple of years ago about K. ichopensis, bruceae and others (but not multiflora!) I was told they no longer bother with any of the marginally hardy species.
I did eventually track down ichopensis but it died in a very mild winter, and I gave away bruceae as it was never going to flower for me (Christmas if you are very lucky) and the foliage was a complete mess.

I agree David, thompsonii 'Stern's Trip' has wonderful flowers but for me it's flowering performance is a little hit and miss, it disappears totally over winter, I forget where it is planted and invariably stick a spade through it in spring.
I grow northiae and caulescens for their foliage rather than their flowers.

[Chad]

Martin,

You could coordinate a joint order from South Africa.

Or, though obviously I wouldn't recommend it, approach them to see if they send without all the paperwork 'at your own risk'.

If you do it 'properly' I'd join in for some Erythrina and possibly Disa seed too.

Chad

[MartinNicklin]

Chad there are two reasons why I'm reluctant to order from SA. Firstly, I remember the hassle you had recently with a combined international order and secondly I have had real problems receiving plants/bulbs from SA in the recent past. I'd only do it tracked and that works out prohibitively expensive for 5 seeds! I'm also ashamed to say that I'm not one of those gardeners who gets joy from growing from seed. I only have room for one of each plant, you cannot trust the compost available nowadays (OK for cheap seed but not expensive seed), I simply don't have the patience nowadays and want the finished product ... at flowering size! I think I will just have to dream about owning this plant!

The better option would be a plant. I did recently receive a plant of Megaskepasma erythochlamys (another one which needs a name change!) from continental Europe which only cost a couple of quid to send. As you say it is a risk but at that price (the plant was also just a couple of pounds!) it was worth a gamble. Got here OK and is growing but I wouldn't want to chance something coming almost from the other pole!