cinnamon sage plant Scarlet Sage

cinnamon sage plant Scarlet SageSalvia coccinea Common Names: Scarlet Sage, Blood Sage, Red Sage, Indian Fire (Not to be confused with Salvia splendens, which shares many of these common names) Tropical Sage is a wonderful plant from the mint family (Lamiaceae) that originally hails from the southeastern United States and Mexico. It's a perennial in warmer climates, but it happily grows as an annual in areas where winters are chilly. The genus name, Salvia, comes from the Latin word

Salvia coccinea

Common Names: Scarlet Sage, Blood Sage, Red Sage, Indian Fire (Not to be confused with Salvia splendens, which shares many of these common names)

Tropical Sage is a wonderful plant from the mint family (Lamiaceae) that originally hails from the southeastern United States and Mexico. It's a perennial in warmer climates, but it happily grows as an annual in areas where winters are chilly. The genus name, Salvia, comes from the Latin word "salvo," which means "be well," highlighting its medicinal benefits.

This plant thrives in sandy, nutrient-rich soil and enjoys a sunny spot, although it can adapt well to partial shade. It’s quite forgiving and can be managed in clay soil as long as there's good drainage. Tropical Sage typically reaches 1 to 3 feet and can spread 1 to 2.5 feet wide. While it can endure drought conditions, it truly shines and produces stunning blooms when given extra water during dry spells. Plus, it often self-seeds, allowing for delightful surprises each season.

The bright red flowers grow about an inch long and are beautifully arranged in whorls along the upright stem. They bloom continuously from early summer all the way to the first frost, attracting charming hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden.

It’s worth noting that while Tropical Sage resembles Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans), which has edible flowers, the flowers of Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea) should NOT be eaten. To tell them apart, crush a flower and give it a sniff: if it has a scent reminiscent of sage or grass, you're looking at Tropical Sage, which is not edible. 

Nectar Source: Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Bees

BONAP MAP

Height: 2’-3’
Spread: 1’-2’
Bloom: June-November
Light: Full Sun-Part Shade
Water: Low
Zone: 8-11 
Origin: Texas, Southeastern U.S., Mexico