How to Plant, Grow, and Care For Scarlet Sage

Scarlet sage brings flags of red blooms with pollinator resources, easy growing, and little to no maintenance. It’s also a U.S. native in warm growing zones and an adaptable ornamental with versatile applications.

Salvia coccinea brings lively color to the early summer display with its sweep of red tubular blooms. Its ecological benefits and aesthetic appeal make it a prime addition to the sunny or partially shaded border. It perennializes in zones 8-11 but grows as an annual in cooler climates and may reseed each year in zones 6 and above.

Eye-catching and compact, the petal flags draw hummingbirds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Whether the straight species or its cultivars in pink, white, or coral, scarlet sage is an easy bloomer with seasons of appeal.

What is Salvia coccinea?

Salvia coccinea is a compact sage with spikes of tubular flowers that begin blooming in the spring. Emerging earlier than other salvias, the blossoms continue until frost. One of over 900 species in the genus and a favorite in cultivation, the North American native grows for its ornamental and ecological value. Heat and drought-tolerant, it grows with little maintenance across conditions.

Scarlet sage draws hummingbirds and pollinators from near and far with flowers that advertise their rich nectar. Arrange them in groups or drifts for numbers of the colorful wands. They pair well with other summer-blooming perennials and annuals and offer an airy backdrop or mid-layer in the border.

Scarlet sage is at home in the ornamental border, in native, wildflower, pollinator, rock gardens, and cottage arrangements. Cultivars in pink, white, coral, and jewel-toned red add to the appeal. Employ it as a massed, tall groundcover for blooming coverage.

Characteristics

Scarlet sage is fast-growing, emerging quickly in the spring and forming branches of vase-shaped, upright stems with red, tubular blooms. Because of its quick growth, it grows easily as a bedding annual in cooler climates outside of its hardiness zones. In its native range, it forms a shrubby perennial. It brings a lush, tropical flair to the display.

The tubular blooms appear throughout the warm season until temperatures cool in fall. They whorl loosely around ten-inch spikes. In two parts, the one-inch blooms hold the tubes (corolla) that extend from a calyx that holds the petals.

After flowering, tiny seeds emerge, tucked within the calyx, and provide a food source for songbirds like finches. In their optimal growing conditions, they disperse and scatter to overwinter for future seedlings the following spring.

Triangular leaves are aromatic, textural, and medium green. In the mint family, the aromatic foliage is to the benefit of being deer and rabbit-resistant. These wildflowers are carefree growers with a tidy, contained habit. They die back after fall’s hard freezes to reemerge in spring, whether as perennials or through volunteer seedlings.

Native Area

S. coccinea is native to Mexico with a range from the Southeastern U.S. through Central America and into upper South America (Columbia, Peru, and Brazil). Its U.S. range includes the Southeastern coast from South Carolina and west to Texas.

Its natural plant community is sandy forests, coastal plains, and disturbed sites. With hardiness across USDA zones 8 through 11, the perennials bear good heat tolerance and adapt to various soil types.

Planting

The wildflowers reseed to expand the colony, though they aren’t aggressive spreaders. When planting, space them 12 to 18 inches apart to allow room to spread, or go closer for a denser look (useful for annual displays). They reach one to two feet wide at maturity.

Scarlet sage is beautiful as a thriller and filler specimen in container arrangements. In cold climates, they overwinter well in a greenhouse, where the flowering continues under warm conditions. But it’s also easy to regrow them annually from seed.

Transplanting

Scarlet sage is heat-loving and takes off in warm temperatures. Transplant it or direct sow seeds after the final frost as soil and air temperatures warm. To get a jump start on growth, start seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost. 

Cool days and nights show slow growth, followed by rapid development in warm, sunny weather with regular rain.

How to Grow

The low-maintenance wildflowers tolerate a range of conditions with little gardener intervention. Scarlet sage benefits from consistent moisture and sun exposure, depending on the climate, for best growth and flowering.

Light

Scarlet sage shows the most vigor in full sun, with six or more hours daily. It also tolerates partial shade (about four or more hours), especially with protection from intense afternoon sun in southern climates.

The adaptable selections thrive across exposures, with more sun allowing increased growth and flowering. Too much shade shows in leggy, weak stems and few or no flowers.

Water

The flowering native is drought-tolerant but grows and flowers best with regular moisture. Consistent moisture during the growing season ensures overall health. While they withstand hot, dry spells, they won’t flower in these conditions in order to conserve resources.

Avoid prolonged wet and soggy conditions, as they lead to weakness and potential diseases like powdery mildew.

Soil

Scarlet sage prefers loose, sandy loams but tolerates lesser conditions like clay as long there is good drainage. They’re adaptable to varying soil textures and pH levels, with slightly acidic as ideal. Well-drained soils are essential for this salvia to thrive.

At planting, topdress generously with compost over the entire area, especially in poor soils like clay and sand. The organic material helps with aeration, moisture retention, drainage, and nutrition. 

Temperature and Humidity

The southern growers tolerate heat and humidity and mild winter climates where they perennialize. Seedlings pop up in cooler growing areas or perform as annuals in cold climates.

Overwinter containerized specimens in cold areas by providing winter protection. You’ll likely have seedlings emerge when moving the pot to sunny conditions with regular water in spring.

Fertilizing

Aside from compost to boost nutrition in poor soils, additional fertilizer isn’t necessary for S. coccinea to flourish.

Maintenance

The low-maintenance salvia doesn’t ask much in optimal conditions. Mulch around plants (away from stems) for insulation and moisture regulation. Deadhead spent blooms to prolong flowering. Cut back plants to maintain a bushy habit in late June to early July, especially if they become tall or raggedy. New growth will flush, followed by more flowers.

For end-of-season care, cut back brown foliage and stems after leaves completely die back after fall’s first hard frost. Clip them when dry to tidy up (though it’s not essential to health).

Propagation

Salvia propagates through seed, division, and cuttings. Unless expanding a specific cultivar, growing them from seed or transplanting volunteer seedlings is the easiest means.

Growing From Seed

Direct sow scarlet sage seeds in warm climates anytime and in cool climates post-frost and as soil temperatures warm (for a late bloom). Start them indoors six to eight weeks before your final frost date for earlier establishment, transplanting as the weather warms.

The seeds need light to germinate, so sow them by pressing them lightly into the soil surface. Keep the potting media moist and warm for germination in two to three weeks.

Division

Divide established plants in the spring so new shoots develop during the growing season. While division creates new plants, they don’t require it to thrive.

To divide, loosen the soil around the plant to capture and lift the entire root system. Rinse away the soil. Separate the crown of the mother plant by working from the outside in. Cut off sections that capture stems with portions of the roots intact (usually two or three pieces). Use a spade or sharp blade to make the cuts. Install the divisions 12 to 18 inches apart in their new garden spots and ensure regular moisture as roots develop.

Cuttings

Take cuttings anytime during the growing season to capture fresh, pliable new growth. Here are steps for best practices in taking cuttings:

• Cut a four-to-six-inch piece of stem from a healthy branch. Cut the stem at a 45-degree angle to ensure water and rooting hormone coverage.
• Remove the foliage from the bottom ⅔ of the cutting (leaving at least two leaves). Keep cuttings moist until ready to pot.
• Optional: moisten the cutting and dip the lower stem in rooting hormone, coating generously. Tap off any excess rooting powder.
• Plant the cutting in at least two inches of moist, well-draining potting mix.
• Place the pot or tray in a bright, warm location, avoiding direct sunlight.
• Water as needed, keeping the soil evenly moist.
• When the cutting resists a gentle tug, roots are in place and ready to be repotted.
• Plant the cuttings in four-inch pots, moving them outside in mild conditions. New plants will be tender.

Popular Varieties

Top-performing cultivars of the native species make beautiful specimens. They sparkle with a delicate texture and dense habit among other warm-season annuals and perennials.

‘Coral Nymph’

Salvia coccinea ‘Coral Nymph’ is a two to three-foot sage with spikes of peach and white bicolor flowers. The orchid-like blooms begin in the spring and early summer and offer sweet, light tones among darker blooms and foliage.

‘Coral Nymph’ is extremely heat and drought-tolerant. It has a compact form, tidy in landscape, and packs the nectar-rich blooms. The bloom spikes also make lovely cut flowers, adding a soft wispiness to the bouquet.

‘Summer Jewel Pink’

S. coccinea ‘Summer Jewel Pink’ glitters in the border with loads of pink tubular blooms on compact stems. Its robust growth made it an All-America Selections winner in 2012.

Like others in the species, ‘Summer Jewel Pink’ reseeds for recurrent blooms. Move them around if they pop up out of bounds, or leave them to infill the display. Also, look for ‘Summer Jewel Red’ (also an AAS winner) for a floriferous, bright red variety with compact growth. 

‘Forest Fire’

S. coccinea ‘Forest Fire’ shines with two-lipped blooms in fiery crimson held by purplish-black calyxes. The smaller cultivar grows one to two feet tall with the same width.

‘Forest Fire’ gets going in the heat of early to midsummer with a show until frost. Another shorter red cultivar is ‘Lady In Red’ with free-flowering and dependable reseeding. ‘Lady in Red’ is an earlier All-America Selections winner.

Common Problems

Salvia coccinea is free of most pests. Common garden insects like aphids may crop up. The fungal disease powdery mildew is an issue in damp, humid conditions.

Pests

Aphids are sap-sucking insects that colonize in numbers and feed on tissues. They’re pear-shaped and soft-bodied in light yellow, green, pink, brown, or black.

Aphids prefer soft, new growth, including tender shoots, leaf undersides, buds, and blooms. They don’t often pose a severe threat but can stress plants. They also leave behind sugary honeydew, leading to unattractive black, sooty mold. Severe infestation presents as curling and yellowing leaves and stunted growth.

Spraying a strong stream of water early in the day may deter aphids by displacing them from leaves and stems. Natural predators like ladybugs, parasitic wasps, hoverflies, and lacewings provide natural pest control. Attract a diversity of insects with varied blooming selections.

Horticultural soaps or oils like neem control infestations. Follow label directions, as these treatments affect all insects, including pollinators. Time of day is essential in application.

To prevent aphids, water evenly to achieve consistently moist soil. The insects gravitate toward drought-stressed specimens over healthy, well-watered ones.

Diseases

Common fungal diseases are seldom issues but may occur in overly wet or humid conditions. Provide good air circulation through proper spacing and monitor watering to promote overall health.

Powdery mildew is one of the most common fungal problems when the pathogen Erysiphe appears as a grayish-white dust on leaves, buds, and stems. Leaves turn yellow, distort, and drop during severe infections. Fortunately, powdery mildew is treatable with early detection.

Horticultural oils like neem can treat fungal diseases early on. Take care not to overwater or overfertilize, which weakens the plant and increases susceptibility. Space them for ample airflow and follow proper watering to avoid wetting the leaves unnecessarily. Remove fallen debris that can harbor spores.