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| Category: Perennial |
| Family: Asphodelaceae (~Liliaceae) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Yellow & Orange |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Summer |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 3-4 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 0-10° F |
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Kniphofia uvaria 'Wilhelm's Lance' (Giant Torch Lily) - A giant among the Red Hot Pokers. From the nearly 3 foot tall deep green foliage clumps rise the flowers atop stout stems to an amazing 6 to 8 feet tall in the spring. These flowers are in immense 10 inch long by 3 inch wide clusters of flowers that are vibrant orange in bud and open from the bottom up to pure golden yellow. This plant was a selection made by Randy Baldwin from a seed crop of Kniphofia "Pfitzer's Hybrids" grown by San Marcos Growers in 1982. The plant was planted in Randy's Puente Drive garden then moved to the San Marcos Growers nursery garden in 1987. The name 'Wilhelm's Lance' was chosen to both indicate the stature of the plant and commemorate Wilhelm Pfitzer, the patriarch of the Pfitzer Nursery in Stuttgart, Germany where the seed for this amazing plant originated. Plant in well-drained soils and give some supplemental irrigation in summer to encourage flower formation. Hardy to below 15 ° F (to around 0° F if it is mulched or the foliage is retained to protect the growth crown). The name Kniphofia honors Johann Hieronymus Kniphof (1704 -1763), a German physician and botanist. The pronunciation of this genus is often argued about and while most continue to use the easiest to pronounce versions such as ny-FOE-fee-ah or nee-FOF-ee-a, others argue correctly that the name should follow the pronunciation of the name it commemorates. But even for this there are differences of opinion owing to different German regional dialects - one such pronunciation often noted as correct is nip-HOFF-ee-uh while another that is particularly hard to pronounce is k-nip-HOF-ia. Keeping it simple we still use ny-FOE-fee-ah. The specific epithet derives from an old Linnaean name for the plant (Aloe uvaria), from the Latin word 'uva' meaning "grape" in reference to the resemblance to the clusters of the fruits hanging on the stems.
The information about Kniphofia uvaria 'Wilhelm's Lance' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
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