Kniphofia uvaria 'Red Rocket'

Kniphofia uvaria 'Red Rocket' is an interesting cultivar of Red Hot Poker in that it is consistently bright coral-red throughout the flowering raceme unlike most Kniphofias that are two-toned and tend to turn a yellow colour upwards from the base of the inflorescence as the tubular flowers open. This uniformly red quality was derived from its parent culitvar 'Nancy's Red' by Dutch plant breeders Pieter Schreurs when they selected it - apparently for its stronger and faster growth. It is also claimed to be earlier flowering than 'Nancy's Red' although so far we have not yet had this flower earlier than July. 

It is a short-height Kniphofia with upright erect leaves that are thin and linear and quite grass-like. The flowers on the inflorescence tend to reflex downwards. To my eye, it is the unusual uniform red colouring of the flower that is exceptional and makes it worth growing.