Photo: avocatCC BY 4.0via iNaturalistresized / cropped
Thomson's Poker Plant Care
Kniphofia thomsonii Baker
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
This plant's long, narrow, lance-shaped leaves sport a vibrant green hue that beautifully contrasts with its towering spikes of red-orange tubular flowers. Hailing from the grasslands of South Africa, Kniphofia thomsonii's unique coloration and striking appearance make it a sought-after addition for plant collectors looking to add a touch of exotic flair to their gardens.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Thomson's Poker?
Water Thomson's Poker every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Thomson's Poker Native To?
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Djibouti
- DR Congo
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
What Is the Thomson's Poker?
Thomson's Poker (Kniphofia thomsonii) belongs to the Asphodelaceae family within the Kniphofia genus. Thomson's Poker is native to the Great Lakes countries of Africa.
Thomson's Poker displays a clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Thomson's Poker produces torch-like spikes of tubular flowers in shades of red, orange, and yellow.
Leaf size: approximately 24 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Thomson's Poker?
Kniphofia thomsonii requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Thomson's Poker Need?
Thomson's Poker thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Thomson's Poker Prefer?
Kniphofia thomsonii grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Thomson's Poker prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Thomson's Poker?
Well-draining sandy loam with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Thomson's Poker to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Thomson's Poker?
Feed Thomson's Poker every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Thomson's Poker?
Divide and repot every 3-4 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Thomson's Poker?
Thomson's Poker can be propagated through division of rhizomes. Similar propagation techniques also apply to north's poker plant plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Thomson's Poker Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Thomson's Poker, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Thomson's Poker?
Thomson's Poker is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, thrips. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Thomson's Poker Need?
Thomson's Poker grows outdoors in USDA Zone 6a – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 6a. Thomson's Poker is native to the Great Lakes countries of Africa.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 6a – 9b
Keep exploring plants
Thomson's Poker is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Kniphofia genus — compare its care with other Kniphofia species on PlantoScan.
Kniphofia is part of the Asphodelaceae plant family — browse all Asphodelaceae genera and species.
Thomson's Poker thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Kniphofia Species
Other Kniphofia species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Kniphofia thomsonii Baker, family Asphodelaceae (first published in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 21: 406 (1885)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Thomson's Poker, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: avocat, CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist — original.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 6a – 9b, estimated from the plant's typical growing conditions.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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