Marcus, Joseph A.
Salvia coccinea P.J. Buchoz ex Etlinger
Scarlet Sage, Tropical Sage, Blood sage
Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Several whorls of red flowers form an interrupted
spike on a square stem.
This showy southern
native is characterized by the loose, widely spaced nature of the flowering spike. It is found in the hot sands of the South. The flamboyant, cultivated member of this group, Scarlet Sage (
S. splendens), was introduced from Brazil.
Image Gallery:
41 photo(s) available
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Red , Pink
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Distribution
USA: AL , FL , GA , HI , LA , MS , OH , SC , TX
Native Distribution: Coastal; South Carolina to Florida; west to Texas.
Native Habitat: In sandy soils in thickets, chaparral, in open woods and edges in east and south Texas.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), HI(I), PR(N), VI(N) Growing Conditions
Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Dry
Soil Description: Caliche type, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay
Conditions Comments: Scarlet sage reseeds easily and will grow in the shade. It has pungent foliage that makes it fairly deer resistant. Periodically trim and deadhead to keep it bushy.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Easily grown, Blooms ornamental, Color,
Perennial garden
Use Wildlife: Nectar-Hummingbirds, Nectar-Bees, Nectar-insects
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Attracts: Hummingbirds , Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: High
2009-04-19
