KNIPHOFIA ‘SHINY BEAST’

I started to collect kniphofias recently and weave them through my border in what I call Fred’s Garden. The spires lead the eye along from one end of the border to the other. This kniphofia is an introduction from Sue Milliken and Kelly Dodson at Far Reaches Farm in the Pacific Northwest region of the USA. They trialled this plant for ten years before starting to sell it, so it’s a definite winner. It has unusually shiny, deep-orange flowers and narrow, grass-like foliage, which makes it unique among kniphofias. I propagate it by division in spring.

Height 45cm.

Origin Garden (species Pacific Northwest, USA).

Conditions Rich, moisture-retentive soil; full sun.

Hardiness RHS H5.

Season of interest July to August.

I am very partial to plants that look as though they could kill you if you fell against them. This Cirsium definitely falls into the category of vicious. It was originally collected by seed by plantsman Seamus O’Brien in Tibet and is now grown more widely. It’s a gigantic, monocarpic, architectural thistle with spiky leaves, and grows up to three metres when flowering. The flowers are yellow and pendulous, and hang off the spiny leaves. I grow it from seed and always have one flowering each summer in the valley. Don’t worry, local farmers, it’s not an invasive species.

Height 3m.

Origin Tibet.

Conditions Well-drained soil; full sun. Hardiness RHS H4.

Season of interest Year round.