Red Hot Pokers

[SarahFair]

My step mother gave me huge clumps of Red Hot Pokers because they were taking over her mailbox area. She told me to just divide them up and plant them where ever they will get full sun.

Do these do better in moist or dryer soil?
How big should I divide the clumps?
How should I plant them? (do they look better in long strips, large masses, in a corner..?)
Should I mow/cut back the leaves that are already there? (They look rather dried up)

 

[SarahFair]

No one?

 

[bid]

I don't have this plant, but my mother has several. She has hers on either side of a path in a clump and they can get pretty large...wide and tall. Hers are well established and probably about 3 feet or more around and the flowers upwards of 4 feet or a bit more. So you may want to keep that in mind when choosing a location for them.

They are drought tolerant, I suppose, as she almost never waters them.

I would cut off any dead or damaged leaves. Just try not to damage the crown. I have divided hers once some time back and just cut through trying not to cut the crown and planted them at the same depth they were already at...crown right about the soil level. Of course my mother has a real green thumb for flowers so, she can put a stick in the ground and it will grow.

Hope this helps. Good Luck!