Kniphofia (Red hot poker, Torch lily, Poker plant) is a genus of plants in the family Asphodelaceae that includes 70 or more species native to Africa. Some species have been commercially used for horticultural use and are commonly known for their bright, rocket-shaped flowers. These plants produce spikes of brightly-coloured, hanging, red-to-orange flowers. This gives names such as “torch” and “red hot poker” to many of them.

Kniphofia pauciflora, also known by its synonym Kniphofia pedicellata and commonly referred to as Dainty Poker or Durban Poker, is a rare and critically endangered species endemic to South Africa. Found exclusively in the KwaZulu-Natal province near Durban, it thrives in Coastal Belt Grassland at elevations ranging from 10 to 200 meters. This delicate, miniature version of the poker plant is ideal for a sunny, moist location and can form substantial clumps. It is also well-suited for container gardening. Once thought to be extinct in the wild, it was recently rediscovered and produces graceful spikes of yellow tubular flowers, blooming nearly year-round, with peak flowering from October to February.