Scarlet Sage (Salvia splendens) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Scarlet Sage is a Brazilian plant grown in garden beds and containers, often as an annual. Its tubular flowers form dense spikes, and both the flowers and the outer parts surrounding them are usually red.

Appearance

Appearance: It grows about 1–3 ft (0.3–0.9 m) tall, with opposite leaves on square stems. Flower spikes are usually red, including the showy around the flowers.
Flowering time: In North Carolina, it blooms from summer until frost.

Look-alikes

Blood SageSalvia coccinea

Blood sage (Salvia coccinea) has looser spikes with separate, narrow red flowers. This plant usually has denser, showier spikes, with colorful calyces around the flowers.

Why they get mixed upBoth species are sold and described as scarlet sage.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: garden beds
containers
Range: Native to Brazil, it is grown in North Carolina gardens rather than as a local wildflower.
Preferred conditions: Give it sun to partial shade and well-drained soil; it needs warmth and regular moisture.

Growing it

Care: Gardeners use it as a bedding annual; compact selections also fit containers.
Propagation: It can be grown from seeds or stem cuttings.

Name and classification

Varieties and forms: Garden selections also bloom in pink, purple, lavender, or white.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

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