Salvia 'Lady in Red' (Salvia coccinea 'Lady in Red')

Salvia 'Lady in Red' (Salvia coccinea 'Lady in Red') is a cultivar of tropical sage, prized for its vibrant, true-red flowers and long bloom season. Native to the southeastern U.S. and tropics, it's a member of the Lamiaceae family and a hummingbird favorite.

Description

Upright, bushy annual/perennial 2–3 feet tall. Leaves are ovate, toothed, aromatic, mid-green. Flowers are 1 inch, bright scarlet-red, tubular, in whorls on spikes. Blooms from early summer to frost. Self-seeds readily.

Growing Conditions

• Zones: 8–11 as perennial; grown as annual everywhere.
• Light: Full sun to part shade.
• Soil: Well-drained, average.
• Water: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established.
• Temperature: Heat-tolerant.

Care & Maintenance

Deadhead for more blooms. Cut back in late winter. Feed monthly. Allow some seed heads for self-sowing. Propagate from seed or cuttings.

Uses

Hummingbird gardens, pollinator beds, borders, containers, naturalized areas. Cut flower. Deer-resistant.

Potential Issues

Powdery mildew in humid conditions. Root rot in wet soil. Generally tough and floriferous.

A brilliant red beacon for hummingbirds—easy, self-sowing, and generous.