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Crank, Elinor
Salvia pentstemonoides Kunth & Bouché
Big red sage, Penstemon sage
Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Synonyms: Salvia penstemonoides
USDA Symbol: sape6
USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.
Once thought to be extinct, Big Red Sage was rediscovered in the 1980s and has become an established garden plant in Texas. It occurs in the wild in only a few locations in central Texas, but luckily it is easy to grow from seed and can attain an impressive stature in garden soil. The flowers are a sort of purplish red and appear in the summer, drawing many hummingbirds. Its robust, glossy foliage looks attractive behind a border and also smells pleasant - rubbing against the leaves releases a scent vaguely reminiscent of lemon-lime, but somehow more like Sprite or 7-Up. The specific epithet, often misspelled penstemonoides, is an orthographic variant.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Leaf Retention: Semi-evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Opposite
Inflorescence: Raceme
Fruit:
Size Class: 3-6 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: RedBloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Bloom Notes: Flowers are red sort of tinged with purple, or red sort of tinged with blue.
Distribution
USA: TXNative Distribution: Endemic to seeps on limestone ledges and banks along streams in central Edwards Plateau. Well-drained loam, clay, limestone.
Native Habitat: Stream, river banks, Ditches, Ravines, Depressions
USDA Native Status: L48(N)
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Alkaline (pH>7.2)
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Medium Loam, Clay Loam Clay, Limestone-based, Calcareous
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Attractive flowers and leaves that smell faintly like lemon-lime when brushed againstUse Wildlife: A sure hummingbird attractor
Use Food: Like many red-flowered Salvias, its flowers are both edible and sweet.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Foliage: yes
Attracts: Butterflies , Hummingbirds
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: Minimal
Propagation
Propagation Material: SeedsCommercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Cut spent flower spikes to their basal rosettes.
Find Seed or Plants
Order seed of this species from Native American Seed and help support the Wildflower Center.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Native Plant Society of Texas - Fredericksburg, TX
NPSOT - Fredericksburg Chapter - Fredericksburg, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX, TX
Bibliography
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. WasowskiSearch More Titles in Bibliography
From the Archive
Wildflower Newsletter 1988 VOL. 5, NO.1 - National Jubilee Honors Lady Bird Johnson, President's Report, Spring Wildflower...Wildflower Newsletter 1992 VOL. 9, NO.1 - Research Update, Creating Native Lawn with Sod, Director's Report, What Makes Pl...
Wildflower Newsletter 1992 VOL. 9, NO.5 - Ten Year Anniversary Celebration, A Look Back at Our First Decade, Celebration o...
Recommended Species Lists
Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.
View Recommended Species pageAdditional resources
USDA: Find Salvia pentstemonoides in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Salvia pentstemonoides in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Salvia pentstemonoides
Metadata
Record Modified: 2011-01-25Research By: TWC Staff, GDG
