Red Hot Poker Rufa Rasta (Kniphofia)

Kniphofia Rufa Rasta is a lively and characterful red hot poker with flower spikes that glow in shades of coral red, gradually softening into warm lime yellow at the tips. The colour shift gives each spike depth and movement, especially when the flowers catch the evening light. These upright blooms rise above long, linear, strap like leaves in fresh green, creating a clean backdrop that makes every spike stand out, almost like a painter’s final flourish in the border.

This variety forms neat clumps and reaches a height of around 60 to 80 cm when in flower, making it a reliable choice for the middle of a sunny border or a large container. Rufa Rasta belongs to the more compact and free flowering rufa group, valued for its strong garden performance and long season of interest. It flowers from early summer through to late summer, and often into early autumn in sheltered UK gardens.

Hardy and dependable once established, Kniphofia Rufa Rasta copes well with typical British conditions provided the soil drains well. It returns each year with increasing vigour and is particularly attractive to bees and other pollinators. If you are looking for bold colour without bulk, and something that brings warmth and energy to the summer garden, this red hot poker is an excellent choice.

Learn how to grow Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia)

• Botanical name: Kniphofia rufa Rasta
• Flower colour: Red, coral, lime, yellow
• Plant size: Medium
• Established height: 60 to 80 cm
• Established spread: 30 to 50 cm
• Plant spacing: 5 plants per m²
• Leaf colour: Green
• Habit: Upright, clump forming
• Life cycle: Perennial
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• Years to establish: 1 to 2 years
• Sunlight: Full sun, partial shade
• Plant in Spring
• We start shipping by mid/end of March
• Local dispatch from London