This kniphofia is one of the latest ones to flower giving a lovely punch of colour to the autumn border.The large spherical heads, slighly flattened at the top, are a bright redy/orange and yellow on stout four to four and a half foot tall stems . Like all Kniphofias it is hugely attractive to bees ( see second photo) Kniphofia rooperi has the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
All Phlox have a lovely spicy scent which perfumes the garden during the summer months, this cultivar also has a long flowering period, resistance to mildew and is superb for cutting. It has large clear white flower-heads and dark green foliage , reaching 4 foot it rarely needs staking and grows easily in part shade or sun. Like all Phlox it appreciates a rich moist soil.
There is a sport of this plant, Phlox paniculata “David’s Lavender”, which I have recently acquired and I am trialing it in my garden to see if it performs as well as”David”…….watch this space!
Well this is possibly the last one for this year as most of the seedlings that have scapes have flowered now. It would be lovely to discover a good really late flowerer but looking at the seedling beds I don’t see any evidence of that, however this week’s seedling is one from the 2012 or 2013 batch. I’m not 100% sure of its parentage but I’m guessing it may be one of the Spirit of Sapelo X Suzy Cream Cheese crosses. We have nicknamed it “Ole Stripey” and we’ll grow it on for a couple more years before deciding whether to formally name and register it. The photograph shows it in the cottage garden with Geranium Anne Thomson.
