Red hot poker

Red hot pokers are not all red hot - some have cooler colours, and 'Little Maid' is one of these. The short, slender spikes of pale yellow and ivory flowers are much easier to place in a flower border than traditional tall red kinds. Appearing in late summer and autumn, the timing is just right for 'Little Maid' to team with phygelius, but plants also look superb with a carpet of purple Euphorbia dulcis 'Chameleon'. Plants are fairly small and are slow to spread, so are unlikely to need dividing for many years - they look best left to build up a large clump.