Scarlet Sage (Salvia splendens): The Classic Red Bedding Plant

Scarlet sage, or red salvia, is the quintessential red bedding annual, with dense spikes of bright red, tubular flowers atop glossy, dark green leaves. It blooms from late spring to frost. Native to Brazil, Salvia splendens has been a garden staple for over a century.

Growing and Varieties

Full sun to partial shade. Rich, moist, well-drained soil. Deadhead for continuous bloom. Many cultivars: 'Red Hot Sally' (compact), 'Saucy Red' (looser habit), 'Lighthouse' (tall). Essential for formal beds, borders, and containers.

Uses

Mass plant for high-impact red. Combine with white alyssum, blue ageratum, yellow marigolds. Attracts hummingbirds. In zones 10-11, it can be a short-lived perennial.

Taxonomic Profile