Kniphofia is a perennial grown for its orange blooms, which open in summer and return year after year. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 9, shrugs off deer and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its summer flowers are a moderate draw for hummingbirds and honeybees.
Zones
5-9
pH Range
6-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Kniphofia on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether kniphofia actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score kniphofia against your land's real conditions.
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What Kniphofia is
Kniphofia grows as a perennial and reaches around four feet at maturity. It blooms orange in summer. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.
How to grow Kniphofia
Kniphofia grows in USDA zones 5 through 9. Kniphofia does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 6 to 7.5, on well-drained ground.
USDA Zones
5-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
6 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
4 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Start the season right
Plant kniphofia in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Kniphofia prefers pH 6 to 7.5 (Growable Ground Plant Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut kniphofia blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — kniphofia isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Kniphofia offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Kniphofia thrives
Kniphofia is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 9. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 5–9·Where Kniphofia growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Kniphofia can grow in these states:
See if Kniphofia will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether kniphofia actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Kniphofia in my zone?
Kniphofia grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Kniphofia?
Most growers plant kniphofia after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Kniphofia need?
Kniphofia needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Kniphofia need?
Kniphofia prefers soil pH 6 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (Growable Ground Plant Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Kniphofia attract pollinators?
Yes — kniphofia's flowers are a solid nectar source for hummingbirds and honeybees. (Source: Pollinator Partnership.)
Is Kniphofia safe for pets?
Kniphofia is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data. Always supervise pets around new plantings. (Source: ASPCA.)