Winter Cheer Red Hot Poker

Winter Cheer Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia 'Winter Cheer') is a large winter-flowering poker, a robust evergreen clump about 1m wide with spikes 1.2 to 1.5m tall. Orange-red buds open orange-yellow from winter into early spring, when little else in the garden is in flower. It is often listed as Kniphofia 'Zululandiae', and it is a magnet for honeyeaters.

Why you'll love it

• Colour in winter. Tall orange-red and orange-yellow spikes arrive in the coldest months and carry through to early spring.
• Feeds the birds. Winter nectar is scarce, so honeyeaters work these flowers hard.
• Big, bold clump. It is one of the larger pokers, with broad strappy leaves and thick stems that stand up on their own.
• Hardy constitution. Drought tolerant, coastal tolerant and able to take frost once established.
• Little upkeep. A tidy after flowering and an occasional division are all it needs.

Where it works best

Winter feature. Plant where it can be seen from the house, so the spikes can be enjoyed from indoors on cold days.

Large borders and banks. Its size suits the back of a wide border or a sunny slope, planted in groups of three or more.

Coastal gardens. It copes with wind and salt and adds strong colour to seaside plantings in the quiet season.

Growing Winter Cheer Red Hot Poker in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun is essential for strong stems and plenty of flower. Pokers suit temperate, Mediterranean and subtropical gardens, and established clumps tolerate frost.

Soil. Well-drained soil is the main requirement. Sandy and gravelly soils suit them, and clay should be opened up or mounded so the crown never sits wet over winter.

Water and feed. Keep new plants watered through their first summer. After that they cope with dry spells, and a deep watering while the flower stems are forming improves the display. A slow-release fertiliser in spring is enough.

Tidying and dividing. Remove finished stems at the base and comb out dead leaves at the end of winter. Lift and divide congested clumps in autumn or early spring.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Winter Cheer Red Hot Poker in 200mm pots in packs of 6. Plant out soon after arrival with the crown at soil level, water in well and mulch around the clump. Plants settle in over their first year and flower most heavily from the following winter. Our growers do not carry every size right through the year, so a size may show as on backorder now and then. If you order a backorder size we confirm it with you before anything ships.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Grasses and strappy leaf plants
• More flowering plants for sunny beds
• Plants that bring birds to the garden
• Creating a backyard bird sanctuary

Common questions

When does Winter Cheer flower?

From winter into early spring, well ahead of the summer-flowering pokers. Planting both extends the poker season across much of the year.

Will frost damage the flowers?

Established clumps tolerate frost. A severe frost can mark open spikes, so a position with some overhead shelter helps in very cold districts.

How much room does it need?

Allow 80cm to 1m between plants. It is a large poker and resents being crowded by neighbours.