Kniphofia 'Sunningdale Yellow' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Kniphofia 'Sunningdale Yellow' — 11cm / 0.75L11cm / 0.75L
Red Hot Poker (Torch Lily)

Kniphofia 'Sunningdale Yellow'

£8.99
Hardy in the UKSun-lovingRHS award winnerLoved by pollinators
Pot size
11cm / 0.75L £8.99

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

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Description

The Kniphofia 'Sunningdale Yellow', one of the best-loved red hot pokers, lights up the summer border with slender spikes of warm, tubular yellow flowers held on wiry stems above a fountain of grassy foliage. This free-flowering torch lily brings a vertical jolt of exotic colour to British gardens and acts as a magnet for bees and other pollinators.

Rated RHS H5, it is a fully hardy perennial that shrugs off temperatures down to around -15C once established. It is deciduous, dying back to a tight crown over winter and bursting back into growth each spring, with a long flowering season that runs from early summer well into autumn. Leaving the faded foliage in place through the cold months gives the crown natural protection from frost.

Water through the first summer to establish, after which it becomes impressively drought-tolerant, making it a natural choice for dry and gravel gardens and sunny exotic borders. It is equally happy in a large pot on a hot patio, so it earns a place among our plants for pots and containers, and its nectar-rich pokers make it one of the best plants for pollinators. Pair it with other hardy exotics such as the architectural Kniphofia caulescens for a bold, sun-loving scheme.

Every plant we supply is nursery-grown, selected for a healthy crown and strong roots, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Red Hot Poker (Torch Lily)

Plant me in full sun and I will stand a UK winter outdoors.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Red Hot Poker (Torch Lily)

Kniphofia 'Sunningdale Yellow' needs full sun and moist but well-drained soil. It is hardy to around −15°C and stands a UK winter outdoors.

Good for

Dry & Gravel Gardens Exotic Borders Pots & Containers Wildlife & Pollinators

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H5 · Hardy Exotic · down to around −15°C

reliably hardy in the UK, with a dry winter mulch useful in cold, wet gardens.

Position

Full sunEast-facingSouth-facingExposedSheltered

full sun for the strongest spikes, in an open, warm spot.

Soil

ChalkLoamSandMoist but well-drainedAcid pHNeutral pH

any fertile, free-draining loam, sand or chalk; sharp drainage matters most.

Watering

Water regularly through the first summer to settle the roots, keeping the soil moist but never sodden. Once established it is notably drought-tolerant. An annual spring feed and mulch keep the clump vigorous and free-flowering. Read moreShow less

Water regularly through the first summer to settle the roots, keeping the soil moist but never sodden. Once established it is notably drought-tolerant. An annual spring feed and mulch keep the clump vigorous and free-flowering.

Mature size

Height0.6-0.9 m
Spread0.45 m

Reaches full size in 2-5 years

Growth habit

Clump-forming

Flowering

Jun-Sep · Yellow

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Deciduous

Pruning

Leave the foliage over winter for crown protection, then tidy the dead leaves and cut the old flower spikes back in spring.

Toxicity

No reported toxicity to people or pets; red hot pokers are generally considered non-toxic, though the sap and pollen may cause minor skin or eye irritation in sensitive individuals.

Native range

Garden origin

Family

Asphodelaceae

Also known as

Kniphofia 'Sunningdale Yellow'

Genus

Kniphofia
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kniphofia 'Sunningdale' hardy in the UK?

Yes. Kniphofia 'Sunningdale' is rated RHS H5, which means it is hardy across most of the UK and tolerates roughly -15C once established. It is a deciduous red hot poker that dies back to a crown each winter, so leave the faded foliage in place as natural frost protection and tidy it away in spring.

When does Kniphofia 'Sunningdale' flower?

It flowers over a long season from early summer into autumn, sending up slender spikes of warm, tubular yellow flowers on wiry stems above the grassy foliage. Removing spent spikes encourages more blooms to follow.

How tall does Kniphofia 'Sunningdale' grow?

It forms a tidy clump around 0.6 to 0.9 m tall in flower and about 0.45 m across, reaching its full size in two to five years. The neat habit suits the middle of a sunny border.

Can I grow Kniphofia 'Sunningdale' in a pot?

Yes. Its compact size makes it ideal for a large container on a hot, sunny patio. Use a free-draining, loam-based compost and see our plants for pots and containers for more sun-loving companions.

Is Kniphofia 'Sunningdale' good for pollinators?

Very much so. The nectar-rich pokers are a magnet for bees and other beneficial insects, which is why it features among our plants for pollinators. It is an easy way to add colour and wildlife value to a sunny border.

How do I care for red hot pokers over winter?

Leave the old foliage over the crown through winter for frost protection rather than cutting it back in autumn. Tidy away the dead leaves and spent flower spikes in spring as new growth appears, and add a dry mulch in cold, wet gardens. See our hardy exotics: what to expect guide for seasonal tips.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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