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Salvia splendens

Image of Salvia splendens

Felder Rushing

Family

Lamiaceae

Botanical Name

Salvia splendens

Plant Common Name

Scarlet Sage

General Description

A classic bedding plant for sunny containers and beds, scarlet sage is a bushy, tender perennial that originates from Brazil. It has dark to medium green foliage and produces spikes of 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 popular bedding plants happy. They look best when planted in groups and mix well with other hot-flowered, heat-tolerant ornamentals. Regular deadheading of the spent flower spikes will prolong flowering well into fall.

Though typically red-flowered, there are many cultivars of scarlet sage with other bloom colors including orange, pink, purple and white-flowered selections.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 10

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    11 - 12

  • Sunset Zone

    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

  • Plant Type

    Tender Perennial

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun

  • Height

    8"-48" / 20.3cm - 121.9cm

  • Width

    12"-24" / 30.5cm - 61.0cm

  • Bloom Time

    Indeterminate

  • Native To

    Brazil

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Neutral

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Loam

  • Growth Rate

    Fast

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Clump-Forming

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    White, Red, Purple, Pink, Salmon, Coral, Burgundy

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Green, Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Green, Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Green, Dark Green

  • Fragrant Flowers

    No

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    Yes

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    No

  • Foliage Texture

    Medium

  • Foliage Sheen

    Matte

  • Evergreen

    Semi-Evergreen

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Bedding Plant, Container, Mixed Border, Tropical

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Attracts

    Hummingbirds

  • Self-Sowing

    Yes