How to Grow Red Hot Poker Bressingham Comet
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Red Hot Poker Bressingham Comet
Kniphofia uvaria 'Bressingham Comet'
flowerBressingham Comet is a striking cultivar of Red Hot Poker featuring distinctive tubular flowers in vibrant red and yellow bicolor arrangement on tall, upright spikes. This perennial produces dramatic blooms that attract hummingbirds and butterflies while maintaining attractive clumping evergreen foliage year-round. It's a compact variety ideal for borders, containers, and mixed perennial gardens.
When should you plant Red Hot Poker Bressingham Comet in your zone?
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Example Red Hot Poker Bressingham Comet timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Red Hot Poker Bressingham Comet
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Red Hot Poker Bressingham Comet blooms
Mid-to-late summerBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Red Hot Poker Bressingham Comet dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 6-10, with some hardiness to zone 5b with winter protection
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Get my Red Hot Poker Bressingham Comet timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling/Transplant Establishment
4-8 weeksYoung plants develop a basal rosette of narrow, strappy green foliage with minimal height
Keep soil lightly moist; provide bright light; protect from strong wind; plant transplants with crown at soil surface
Vegetative Growth
Spring through early summerPlant expands its clump, producing multiple fans of long, narrow, sword-like leaves; no flowering yet
Water moderately; begin feeding with balanced fertilizer; ensure excellent drainage; remove any damaged foliage
Flowering
6-8 weeks, typically mid-summer to early fallDistinctive thick, upright flower spikes emerge from foliage with tightly packed tubular flowers arranged in dense spike; colors transition from red-orange at tips to yellow-orange toward base
Deadhead spent flowers to encourage additional blooms; water regularly during flowering; stake if needed in windy locations; fertilize bi-weekly with low-nitrogen formula
Seed Pod Development
2-3 weeksFlowers fade and dry; seed pods form along the spike in geometric patterns
Deadhead to redirect energy to new blooms, or allow to set seed for wildlife and self-seeding
Dormancy/Winter Rest
3-4 monthsFoliage persists as evergreen but growth slows dramatically; flowering ceases
Reduce watering; provide mulch in zones below 6 for winter protection; leave dead flower spikes for winter interest or remove for tidiness; no fertilizing
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with water to dislodge; use neem oil or insecticidal soap if severe; improve air circulation
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and
Remove by hand; use slug traps or barriers; apply diatomaceous earth around plant base
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Ensure excellent drainage; avoid overwatering; use well-draining soil mix; remove affected plants if necessary
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Spray with insecticidal soap; remove affected flowers; improve air circulation
Uses
Ornamental garnish
CulinaryWhile not edible, the striking flower spikes are popular in cut flower arrangements and floral design, adding dramatic height and tropical color to bouquets and wedding arrangements. [source]
Hummingbird and pollinator magnet
WildlifeThe tubular flowers are specifically adapted to attract hummingbirds, which pollinate them while feeding on nectar. Also attracts bees and butterflies, supporting local pollinator populations. [source]
Dried flower craft
CraftFlower spikes can be dried and used in dried arrangements, wreaths, and crafts. The geometric seed pods are particularly striking in dried arrangements. [source]
Landscape focal point
HouseholdCreates dramatic vertical interest and architectural structure in gardens, borders, and container plantings. The bicolor red-and-yellow flowers provide striking color contrast and modern aesthetic appeal. [source]
Butterfly and bee support
WildlifeSecondary pollinator attractant providing nectar and pollen throughout its extended blooming season, supporting bee and butterfly populations during mid to late summer. [source]
Harvest Tips
Red Hot Poker is grown for ornamental flowers, not harvest in traditional sense. Cut flower spikes for arrangements once fully opened; use a sharp knife and cut at base of spike. Flowers last 1-2 weeks in water. For deadheading, remove entire spent spike at base to encourage reblooming and maintain plant vigor.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Red Hot Poker gets its common name from its appearance—the flower spikes resemble the glowing metal pokers used to stir fires, with the hot colors mimicking heated metal
- 🌱 Kniphofia originates from South Africa and is also known as Torch Lily; 'Bressingham Comet' is a cultivar developed by the renowned Bressingham Gardens nursery in England, known for breeding superior perennial varieties
- 🌱 The flowers are pollinated by sunbirds in their native habitat and hummingbirds in cultivation, having evolved their tubular shape specifically to accommodate these bird species' feeding behavior
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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