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Salvia splendens is often confused with:
Salvia farinacea Low plants with spikes of deep purple blue flowers.
Salvia yangii Branched purple inflorescence bearing purple flowers.
Native alternative(s) for Salvia splendens:
Physostegia virginiana Physostegia virginiana
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Petunia x hybrida Petunia x hybrida
Salvia farinacea Low plants with spikes of deep purple blue flowers.
Salvia rosmarinus close-up of three, pale blue, 2-lipped flowers.
Salvia splendens has some common insect problems:
Bandedwinged Whitefly on Ornamentals
Aphids on Ornamental Landscape Plants
Twospotted Spider Mites on Landscape Plants
Salvia splendens has some common disease problems:
Southern Bacterial Wilt on Herbaceous Ornamental Plants

Salvia splendens

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Salvia brasiliensis
Phonetic Spelling
SAL-vee-ah SPLEN-denz
Description

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.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Paul J Ciener Botanical Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Hotline Improved Group
    Red, white and purple selections are available | 12 inches tall
  • 'Lighthouse Red'
    Classic red bedding annual.
  • 'Sangria'
    Compact plants with white calyces & red corollas.
  • 'St. John's Fire'
  • 'Van Houttei'
    Tender shrub with large red flowers.
  • Vista™ Group
    Red, white, pink, lavender & purple cultivars available | 12 inches tall | heat tolerant
Hotline Improved Group, 'Lighthouse Red', 'Sangria', 'St. John's Fire', 'Van Houttei', Vista™ Group
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#white flowers#red flowers#nectar plant#fall interest#cottage garden#well-drained soil#summer flowers#deer resistant#long bloom time#border planting#bedding plants#cutting garden#spring interest#pollinator plant#fantz#butterfly friendly#nectar plant early summer#nectar plant midsummer#nectar plant late summer#nectar plant early fall#partial shade tolerant#drought intolerant#wilson mg plant sale 2021#container plant#annual#wildlife friendly#HS303
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Hotline Improved Group
    Red, white and purple selections are available | 12 inches tall
  • 'Lighthouse Red'
    Classic red bedding annual.
  • 'Sangria'
    Compact plants with white calyces & red corollas.
  • 'St. John's Fire'
  • 'Van Houttei'
    Tender shrub with large red flowers.
  • Vista™ Group
    Red, white, pink, lavender & purple cultivars available | 12 inches tall | heat tolerant
Hotline Improved Group, 'Lighthouse Red', 'Sangria', 'St. John's Fire', 'Van Houttei', Vista™ Group
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#white flowers#red flowers#nectar plant#fall interest#cottage garden#well-drained soil#summer flowers#deer resistant#long bloom time#border planting#bedding plants#cutting garden#spring interest#pollinator plant#fantz#butterfly friendly#nectar plant early summer#nectar plant midsummer#nectar plant late summer#nectar plant early fall#partial shade tolerant#drought intolerant#wilson mg plant sale 2021#container plant#annual#wildlife friendly#HS303
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Salvia
    Species:
    splendens
    Family:
    Lamiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Brazil
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • 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:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Fruit Type:
    Schizocarp
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Schizocarp has 4 lobes that separate into 4 single-seeded nutlets.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Lipped
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Colored Sepals
    fused petals
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are most commonly red to scarlet, but other colors are available. Calyx scarlet, zygomorphic, 2-lipped, persisting in fruit with color fading; corolla scarlet, elongate tubular, to 1.3 inches long, ephemeral, short-lived, upper lobes longer than lower lobes. Inflorescence is a terminal verticillate raceme bearing whorls of 2-6-flowered clusters.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    opposite, petiolate, ovate, crenate, short acuminate, rotund to subcordate, glabrate
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Square
    Stem Description:
    Erect, 8-30" tall square stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators