Are Red Hot Poker Plants Invasive?

Red hot poker plants, also called torch lilies or Kniphofia, are perennials that produce showy flowers. The plants are native to Africa, but they have been introduced to other parts of the world and have become naturalized in some areas.

While they are not considered to be true invasives, they can spread aggressively in gardens and may crowd out other plants.

Red hot poker plants grow from underground rhizomes. The flowers are borne on tall stalks and come in a variety of colors including yellow, orange, red and pink.

PRO TIP:Red hot poker plants are not considered invasive, but they can spread quickly in ideal conditions. Be sure to keep an eye on their growth and consider planting them in pots or containers to help contain their spread.

The blooms are followed by seed pods that contain many small seeds. When the seeds mature, they are dispersed by the wind or animals that eat the pods.

The seeds can germinate quickly and easily, so it is important to deadhead the flowers before they go to seed. If you do not deadhead, you may end up with more red hot poker plants than you started with!

While red hot poker plants are not true invasives, they can be aggressive spreaders in gardens. If you do not want them to take over your garden, it is best to deadhead the flowers regularly and remove any seed pods that form.