Scarlet sage

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade helps in hot climates.

Water

Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water containers whenever the surface begins to dry; plants wilt and flower poorly if repeatedly allowed to dry out.

Soil

Fertile, moisture-retentive soil with good drainage; suitable for most soil textures if they do not remain waterlogged.

Height

1-3 ft (0.3-0.9 m); dwarf varieties can be shorter, while tall forms may reach 5 ft (1.5 m)

Spread

0.75-1.5 ft (0.2-0.45 m)

Flowers

Summer to the first frost; usually scarlet red, with varieties in white, pink, purple and salmon.

Foliage

Evergreen. Soft, pointed, oval green leaves with toothed edges, arranged in opposite pairs.

Growth

Fast during warm weather.

Care needed

Medium

• Plant out after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed.
• Space plants about 8-18 in (20-45 cm) apart, following the variety's mature spread.
• Water at soil level before the root zone dries out completely.
• Mix compost into poor soil before planting; feed container plants with a balanced liquid fertiliser at the label rate.
• Apply a light organic mulch to conserve moisture, keeping it clear of the stems.

Pruning. Pinch out young shoot tips if plants are becoming lanky. Throughout summer, cut spent flower spikes back to a healthy pair of leaves to encourage branching and further flowers.

Late winter

Sow seed indoors in warmth, about 8-10 weeks before your expected last frost.

Spring

Gradually acclimatise indoor-grown plants to outdoor conditions before planting.

Late spring

Plant out after the last frost once nights are reliably mild; water thoroughly.

Summer

Check soil moisture frequently, feed containers and remove spent flower spikes.

Late summer

Take non-flowering tip cuttings if you want to keep a particular plant for next year.

Autumn

Remove frost-killed plants; move rooted cuttings under bright, frost-free cover before cold weather arrives.

• Plant compact varieties in repeated blocks along a sunny path for a clear ribbon of summer colour.
• Use in formal bedding with silver-leaved dusty miller for a strong red-and-silver contrast.
• Combine with coleus and begonias in containers receiving morning sun and afternoon shade.
• Place taller forms among cannas and dahlias in a warm-coloured summer border.

Garden styles it suits: Formal, Traditional, Victorian, Hot border, Tropical and Small-space.

Plant it with: Dusty miller, Coleus, Wax begonia, French marigold, Canna and Dahlia.

Wildlife: The tubular flowers attract hummingbirds where they occur, including parts of the United States and Canada. Butterflies and some bees also visit, although access to nectar varies with flower form.

• Slugs and snails chew young plants: inspect after dark, remove pests and use wildlife-conscious barriers or labelled iron-phosphate bait where needed.
• Aphids gather on soft shoots: wash them off with water and encourage natural predators; use insecticidal soap if an infestation persists.
• Whiteflies can infest sheltered plants and overwintered stock: check leaf undersides and treat with insecticidal soap according to the label.
• Waterlogged soil causes root rot and collapse: improve drainage, empty standing water from saucers and replace badly affected plants.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses; no part is generally recognised as poisonous. It is an ornamental plant rather than a culinary sage, so do not use it as a substitute for edible sage.

• Texas sage (Salvia coccinea)

  Usually has a looser, airier habit with widely spaced red flowers and smaller, often slightly hairy leaves; scarlet sage typically has denser flower spikes and broader leaves.

• Pineapple sage (Salvia elegans)

  Forms a larger, shrubby plant with pineapple-scented leaves when rubbed and slender red flowers, usually most abundant later in the season.

Salvia comes from the Latin salvare, meaning to save or heal, while splendens means shining or splendid and refers to the showy flowers.

Propagation. Grow from seed in a warm propagator in late winter or spring, following the packet's sowing instructions. Root soft tip cuttings in spring or late summer to preserve a particular variety; seedlings may not match the parent.

Accepted botanical name

Salvia splendens

Native range

Brazil Southeast.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.