Salvia
Salvia splendens (SAL-vee-ah SPLEN-denz)
Scarlet sage is a tender perennial in the mint family (Lamiaceae) native to Brazil that is grown as an annual in North Carolina. It grows from 1 to 3 feet high and 8 to 10 inches wide. The specific epithet is Latin for “splendid.” This low-maintenance plant prefers full sun to part shade and well-drained soil. It is not drought-tolerant, but it needs warmth. It can also be grown in containers, alone or in combination with other flowering annuals and perennials. Propagate scarlet sage by stem cuttings or seeds. Do not cover the seeds, as they need light to germinate. Flowers are typically red, and bloom a long time, from summer to frost. Cultivars are available in various shades of red, pink, purple, lavender and white. Scarlet sage flowers are extra-colorful because the calyx is as colorful as the corolla. The tubular, showy flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds, but many of the cultivars bred for bedding have no nectar and are not a useful resource for pollinators. Scarlet sage is a classic bedding annual, and it is widely used in commercial bedding displays. Home gardeners can use scarlet sage in the middle of beds or borders or use their bright cherry red blooms to provide an accent in a cottage or pollinator garden. The flowers can also add interest indoors if scarlet sage is added to a cutting garden. Compact selections are good for edging and in containers. Quick ID Terminal clusters of scarlet, pink, white or purple flowers Calyx is two-lipped and colorful Corolla is elongate-tubular, upper lobes overtop lower Opposite ovate leaves extend from square twigs Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: In the landscape, scarlet sage is relatively pest-free. Potential problems for scarlet sage in greenhouse production include damping-off of seedlings, powdery mildew, botrytis, aphids, spider mites and whiteflies. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Salvia .
Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 60 attributes.
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