Helping You Become a More Successful Gardener
Plant Search
James H. Schutte
Lamiaceae
SALVIA splendens 'van-Houttei'
Scarlet Sage
Named for the father of Belgium horticulture, Louis Benoit van Houtte, this tender perennial is one of the first scarlet sage selections to become available to gardeners. It is valued for its tall, upright habit and produces burgundy wine colored flowers from spring to frost. This antique variety has recently reappeared in modern nurseries because of its easy to grow and has elegant appeal.
A classic bedding plant for sunny containers and beds, scarlet sage is a bushy, tender perennial that originates from Brazil. It is grown as a perennial in warmer zones where it becomes woody with age. In locations with cold winters, it survives as an annual. Salvia ‘van-Houttei’ has light to medium green foliage and produces spikes of wine-red flowers when temperatures are warm and accommodating. These tubular blooms are surrounded by equally showy, colorful calyces that persist long after the flowers have faded. The flowers are hummingbird pollinated, so this is a shoe-in plant for hummingbird gardens.
Full sun and average to rich garden loam with good drainage will make these scarlet sage happy. In frost-free zones, the plants prefer a bit of afternoon shade and will bloom most of the year with regular deadheading and feeding. They look best when planted in groups and mix well with other hot-flowered, heat-tolerant ornamentals.
12 - 1
9 - 12
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Tender Perennial
Full Sun
36"-48" / 91.4cm - 121.9cm
Indeterminate
Brazil
Neutral
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Fast
Average Water
Oval/Rounded
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Showy
Burgundy, Dark Red
Tan, Brown
Green, Light Green
No
Single
Yes
Medium
Matte
Semi-Evergreen
Bedding Plant, Container, Mixed Border
Hummingbirds
© 2006-2021 Preferred Commerce. All Rights Reserved.