Kniphofia buchananii

Here is photo of a Kniphofia buchananii flower spike.

It is in bed with a humusy soil growing with Hydrangea serrata cultivars in morning sun and afternoon shade. The plants were planted out last fall as one year old seedlings, survived the winter (Kansas Z5, USA) and flowered this May. They have a very light but pleasing fragrance.

Aaron Floden (July 13, 2005)

This plant was photographed in late May 2005 (although the more usual flowering time in the northern hemisphere would be August - September) in the author’s garden & was raised by him from South African seed.
 
Kniphofia buchananii is a graceful species from Natal Midlands & semi-coastal grasslands of South Africa mainly medium altitude (1000 - 4000ft), on grassy slopes often among dolerite rocks.
 
40 - 90cm high in flower.  Spikes of cream or white flowers from yellow-green or occasionally red-tinged buds.  
 
It is related to K. breviflora (which has a longer perianth, 4-5.5mm in K. buchananii & 7-11mm in K breviflora) & K. parviflora but differs from this in not having a secund inflorescence.
 
Culture - grow from seed in a well drained seed compost at 15-25°C (Germination 1-8 weeks) or by division in late spring.

It is likely to prefer a well-drained sunny site & although its hardiness is not yet known it will probably prove to be frost tender.
 
Chris Gilbert
Not The National Kniphofia Collection
chris@tanaiste.co.uk