This perennial is semi-evergreen so it can lose some of its leaves in winter. In colder regions or more exposed gardens, it may lose them all, but then fresh new growth appears again in spring.

• Position: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period:
• Hardiness: frost hardy (may need winter protection)
  
  An eye-catching addition to mixed borders or gravel gardens, this attractive perennial forms a generous clump of arching, grass-like foliage. Then, in midsummer upright stems appear, and these are topped with loose, poker-like clusters of slender, coral-red buds, which gradually open from the base of the spike, to tubular lime-green flowers.
  
  
• Garden care: In autumn remove and compost the faded, flower spikes and apply a deep, dry mulch around the crown of the plant. In spring, cut back tatty-looking foliage before the new growth starts to appear, and at the same time, divide overcrowded colonies.