Winterflowering Kniphofias
Tony Avent (Fri, 29 Feb 2008 03:46:47 PST)

John:

I would agree that genetic distribution plays a role in Gladiolus
dalenii as we have seen this first hand. We have clones that bloom in
May/June and others that flower in October/November. Such has not been
the case with kniphofia. We were given "earlier flowering forms" of K.
rooperi and K. sarmentosa that flowered starting in fall and all winter
when grown about 3 hours south (1 zone warmer). When we planted them,
they changed cycles and flowered during the time that we know as normal
for those species, K. rooperi in the late summer through early October
and late March for K. sarmentosa. I've since grown both from numerous
wild collections, and unlike the gladiolus have seen no difference in
flowering times. Thoughts?

Tony Avent
Plant Delights Nursery @
Juniper Level Botanic Garden
9241 Sauls Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 USA
Minimum Winter Temps 0-5 F
Maximum Summer Temps 95-105F
USDA Hardiness Zone 7b
email tony@plantdelights.com
website http://www.plantdelights.com/
phone 919 772-4794
fax 919 772-4752
"I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself...at least three times" - Avent

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