Indian Fire Salvia coccinea
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAL-vee-ah kok-SIN-ee-ah
- Description
-
Scarlet sage is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and is native to the southeastern United States and tropical America. It is perennial in warmer climates and annual where winter temperatures dip below freezing. The species epithet is Latin for “scarlet.”
Scarlet sage is best grown in full sun to partial shade in sandy, fertile soil but will tolerate clay soil with good drainage. It grows 1 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2.5 feet wide. It tolerates drought but will flower more abundantly with watering during dry spells. Scarlet sage reseeds easily.
The bright red flowers are an inch long and arranged in loose whorls along the upright stem. It blooms continuously from early summer to the first frost. They are attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies.
Good locations for scarlet sage are walkways, coastal, and naturalized areas. Use it as a border or mass planting in a butterfly, cottage, pollinator, or drought-tolerant garden.
Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Coral Nymph' (also called 'Cherry Blossom')
bicolor flowers of white and salmon pink - 'Forest Fire'
fire-red flowers with reddish-black calyxes. - 'Lady in Red'
shorter and more free-flowering than other cultivars. All-American Selection. - 'Snow Nymph'
white blossoms - Summer Jewel™ Series
Award-winning cultivars available in pink, white, red, and lavender. All-American Selections.
- 'Coral Nymph' (also called 'Cherry Blossom')
- 'Coral Nymph' (also called 'Cherry Blossom'), 'Forest Fire', 'Lady in Red', 'Snow Nymph', Summer Jewel™ Series
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Coral Nymph' (also called 'Cherry Blossom')
bicolor flowers of white and salmon pink - 'Forest Fire'
fire-red flowers with reddish-black calyxes. - 'Lady in Red'
shorter and more free-flowering than other cultivars. All-American Selection. - 'Snow Nymph'
white blossoms - Summer Jewel™ Series
Award-winning cultivars available in pink, white, red, and lavender. All-American Selections.
- 'Coral Nymph' (also called 'Cherry Blossom')
- 'Coral Nymph' (also called 'Cherry Blossom'), 'Forest Fire', 'Lady in Red', 'Snow Nymph', Summer Jewel™ Series
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Salvia
- Species:
- coccinea
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico, southeastern United States
- Distribution:
- Coastal; South Carolina to Florida; west to Texas.
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Schizocarp has 4 segments that break apart as single-seeded nutlets.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Two-lipped, with a smaller upper lip and a larger lower lip
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Papery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Deltoid
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- medium green, hairy leaves are roughly triangular, oval or heart-shaped, with scalloped edges.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Square stems are covered with short hairs as well as long spreading hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
