I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this post. I recently bought a house, and this plant is in the flower bed. I'm pretty sure it's a Hot Poker plant. I had one at my last house that I planted, but it was a different variety. Not sure that anyone can ID it without any additional pictures.

More than anything, I'm wondering how to divide this plant. It's not in the best spot, and I'd like to move part of it elsewhere. I think I read somewhere that it comes up from a bulb, but I'm not sure that is correct. I couldn't see anywhere obvious to divide it at. Any suggestions would be most appreciated!

They are very hard to dig up! Is that as tall as it gets? Here are some good instructions.

http://www.ehow.com/how_733323...

Susan, I have no idea if it's as tall as it gets. It came with the house we bought, and we only moved in about a month ago. The one I had in Utah was very small compared to this one. We've nicknamed it RPG, for Rocket Propelled Grenade. That is what the flowers look like to us. It's planted right next to the walkway, as you can see in the picture, and I'd love to move it to a better spot if possible. I have no idea of the age, either.

Thanks for the link. I'll check it out!

Those are good instructions, Good luck! Mine got almost six feet tall.

Nice! This one is just over 3 feet tall right now. Not sure if it will get taller, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if it did. I really do love it, but I think they expand too much for where it's at. Whoever planted stuff around here did not use their brain!

Do you cut the flowers and stems off when they are done, and do they grow more flowers? It's what I have read, but haven't had any experience with them myself. The one I planted in Utah had only been in the ground for 6 months or so before we moved. I meant to dig it up and bring it with me, but I forgot to do that.

I did not cut them off. Should I ? I will need the loppers they are huge! The shorter stalks are like a rebloom.

You're asking me? I read somewhere this morning that you should cut the flowers off when they are done, and they may rebloom! Not sure if that is correct or not. I was hoping that you would know! Good to know that the shorter ones are like a rebloom! Mine really just opened up today to where it looked like an actual flower, so I haven't seen anything yet that looks like rebloom. Maybe it isn't necessary to do that. I'll find out though! I'm cutting them back when they are done and will see what happens! I'll need loppers too. This is a very substantial plant, even though it's not that tall yet.

I always cut the stems/stalks of the my faded flowers on the Red Hot Pokers. I think it's a good idea, so they won't put the energy into making seeds and instead make more flowers.

Thanks Marilyn! Do they grow easily from seed? I sure would like to get them started in other areas, and if they can grow easily from seed, I'd like to try that.

Thanks Marilyn! Last thing I want is seeds, one of these is enough!

When I bought my first house there was a large clump of Red Hot Poker. I knew nothing about them except good drainage is needed. I promptly dug mine up and split it. Never seemed worse for the wear. Also, I moved one from my second house to my third house. Never had any trouble. Years later I hear about them being hard to move. I never would have guessed!

Natalie,
I have no experience with these plants other then right now I have 3 seedlings in my greenhouse. I grew them from seed this winter and am currently debating on if I will plant them or give away. Lots of bad PR on these plants. On what I have read is the bloom cycle is short and the plant takes up a large space. Also read that when you plant them they grow there forever because they are hard to eradicate. The ones that I have seen around the PNW always look , well in my eyes, messy and unkempt. Not sure what cultivate your is sure hope an experienced person chimes in. By looking at the picture I would move away from the house. Your in Idaho, kind of hot there right now, so you may want to move in the spring.
The thread "Marsh Poker, Kniphofia linearifolia" in Perennials forum This is another thread about this plant.

Thanks for all the info on the plant! Not sure at this point if they all get to be huge or not, but this plant isn't all that big yet, even though the blooms are quite substantial. I better make a spot for it elsewhere in the Spring!

springcolor, thanks for the link! That was a big help! Now to find out which cultivar this one is.

I guess its all in the eye of the beholder! I love mine! I cut the spent blooms and get a small second flush. And I love the folliage. I do not have any gripes about mine what so ever!

Then again I can't stand yucca and plenty of people love that. Go figure

The only thing I like about yucca is the amazing blooms. Otherwise, I see no point in the plant! I'm biased though. I've been trying for several years to dig it up and get rid of it at my Mom's house. The original owner thought that it would be a great idea to plant yucca and peonies together. No, it's not a good idea, especially if you like peonies!

I grow my poker plants in containers, just because I do not plant anything on the ground..everything in containers.
When I got them as seedlings, I saw they got thick roots, so very rhizomatous.

I used to have Kniphofia Hirsuta Fire Dance, not sure if it is always short growing, since I planted it in a container, and my garden only gets part sun. But it was shorter than my other Kniphofia. Unfortunately it died after blooming..not even sure if it was over or underwatering..
These were photos last May 2012:


My other Kniphofia, Kniphofia sarmentosa is a tall grower and blooms during winter time to early spring. It is growing okay in my garden. I cut the wilted flowers and stalks, but I do not get a rebloom same season, it will do it next season again. This year after bloom time, I tied up the leaves, they looked unruly, then I even cut them very short. Now it is back growing new leaves, after I have been watering them a bit more due to the recent heat wave
Photos during its bloom early this year.


I have one other kniphofia, called Kniphofia caulescens..this one I do not know what it looks like..has never bloomed...just never ending leaves..

So I would think since your kniphofia is planted in ground, it will have very deep thick roots.

How odd,we inherited a Knipfoea too.It was 20 years old and huge and out of control.I hacked it out of the ground.There just comes a time for those plants to find someplace else.

As unruly as their leaves can get, I am keeping the kniphofia for now..only because, especially in winter, that bright orange color is so nice to see, and my hummingbirds love them too..but they are really unruly looking after bloom time.

It's nice that you have blooms in winter. No such luck here. I didn't even have an idea of what this plant could be until a couple of weeks ago when it started growing. It seems like it grew 12 inches overnight!

I've got another little one growing too - very small - and I'm wondering if it could be a seedling off of this one. Hopefully it will bloom soon!

I think some are winter growers in areas like ours which does not get snow..while some are summer growers. Yeah they do grow fast and are such water hogs too.