Pyromania Hot and Cold Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia 'Pyromania Hot and Cold')
ny-FOE-fee-ah 'Pyromania Hot and Cold'

Deciduous Perennial Clump-Forming, Upright in the Asphodelaceae Family
A dramatic hot-cold contrast: deep red buds open to pale greenish-yellow flowers on the same torch-like spike.

Kniphofia 'Pyromania Hot and Cold' is bred by Hans A. Hansen of Walters Gardens and protected under U.S. Plant Patent 31,185. Its name describes its most striking trait: deep, vivid red buds open into pale, greenish-yellow flowers, so each flower spike carries both colors at once. Clumps of arching, gray-green foliage send up sturdy spikes to about 3 feet. Per its own plant patent, flowering begins the last week of spring and lasts about six weeks in Michigan trials; some retail sources describe additional rebloom extending later into the season, so gardeners may see a longer window depending on conditions.

Pros

  • Striking two-tone red-to-greenish-yellow color
  • Compact, tidy habit
  • Deer and rabbit resistant
  • Attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies
  • Drought tolerant once established

Cons

  • Primary bloom window may be shorter than other Pyromania cultivars (~6 weeks per its own patent)
  • Needs winter crown protection in Zone 5-6
  • Intolerant of wet soil
  • Active U.S. Plant Patent 31,185
Highlights Deep red buds open pale greenish-yellow; blooms late spring, about 6 weeks (patent), with some retail sources describing additional rebloom; bred by Hans A. Hansen (Walters Gardens); US Plant Patent 31,185.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 30 - 36 inches tall. 24 - 30 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 5b - 9b (Usually hardy to -15° F)
Tags Attracts Bees, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Dry, Edging, Extended Bloom Time, Formal Garden, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Rock Garden, Medium, Normal Soil, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Reblooms, Showy Flowers, Specimen, Thrillers, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Salt, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period Late Spring, About 6 Weeks
Flower Color Deep Red Buds Opening Pale Greenish-Yellow

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well in a sunny border with Purple Coneflower, Russian Sage, Switch Grass, and Little Goldstar Black-Eyed Susan — all share the same full-sun, well-drained, drought-tolerant preferences.

Photos of This with...

Lakota Fire Coneflower, Sweet Caroline Raven Improved Sweet Potato, Pyromania Hot and Cold Red Hot Poker, Pyromania Orange Blaze Red Hot Poker, Luscious Citrus Blend Lantana, Luscious Berry Blend Lantana, Lemon Coral Stonecrop,
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/13 - 09/20
2024 : 05/01 - 09/21
2023 : 05/04 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!