Salvia coccinea

How to grow Salvia coccinea – growing and care:

Prefer frost free, well-drained soil

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seedling / Seed / Vegetative Reproduction

Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
No, easily reseed itself, when needed specific color is better to start by cutting

Difficulties or problems when growing:
Aggressive and might be invasive

Scarlet sage planting season?
In tropic all year round, other climate spring

Pests and diseases:
Aphids

Pruning season:
All year

How to prune:
Mostly dead stalk

Size of the plant?
0.4-1.5 m, 16-60 inches

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing

Water requirement:
Small amount of water / Average amount of water

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun / Half Shade

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in a planter / flower pot / containers:
Yes, when grow in container, size 10-20L (2.6-5.2 gallons), require small to average amount of water with well-drained soil and the water go out of the pot, better not to use bottom of pot, every few years to switch soil can be all or just part of the soil, soil need to be well ventilated and make enough hole in the containers with good drainage, can us in potting mix or peat soil with perlite or vermiculite and add rich soil with organic matter

Blooming information

Bloom season:
Most of the year, especially in the spring and summer

General information about the flower:
Red flowers but also can be orange or white, flowers grow on stalk in inflorescence.

How to grow Salvia coccinea from seeds

Sowing requirement:
Better to sow it in temperature of 20-25C (68-77F) possible in 15-29C (59-84F) but will take more time to germinate and less seeds will germinate, it’s easy to start from seeds usually it to put on the soil and cover a bit and it will grow

Saving and care seeds until sowing:
Dry and dark location better in root temperature or refrigerator

Sowing season:
Spring to summer in hardiness zone lower than 10a (include) but better in spring, autumn to winter in hardiness zone 10b+ spring, autumn or winter, and better not to sow it in hot summer days

How to plant:
Plant in sunny location until 25C (77F), temperature that will be above in half shade

Planting spacing:
30*40cm (12*16 inches)

Depth of Sowing:
3-6mm (0.2-0.4 inch)

Conditions for seeds germinate:
Moist soil, humidity, sunny location

Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water, don’t let the soil dry and keep the soil moist

Germination time:
2-3 weeks in optimal condition but can take 5 weeks

Condition of seedling:
Moist soil, sunny location but if it’s in the summer need to increase the amount of water

Cultivars

Lady in red (also known as lady in red sage) – flowers color is red to burgundy. Flowering time is from early summer until the fall. Can reach a height of 60 to 90cm (24 to 36 inches) with a spread of 30 to 45cm (12 to 18 inches).

Summer Jewel Red – Blooms continuously from spring to autumn. Blooms heavily in the summer. From sowing it takes 2 months for the first flowers to appear in red color. This cultivar attracts hummingbirds. Can reach a height of 45cm (18 inches) and a spread of 25 to 30cm (10 to 12 inches)

Forest fire (also known as Forest Fire Hummingbird Salvia) – red shiny flowers with dark calyces. Blooms from the mid-summer to the fall. Can reach a height up to 60 cm (24 inches) with a spread of 30 to 60cm (12 to 24 inches)

Coral Nymph (also known as Cherry Blossom) – Heart-shaped flowers have a pastel coral or salmon color. The blooming is earlier than for other salvias. Coral nymph can reach 60cm (24 inches)

Snow nymph (also known as Alba) – flowers color is white. Can reach 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 inches) with a spread of 45cm (18 inches). Leaves are triangular-shaped with a dark green color.

Summer Jewel Pink – Showy pink and white flowers, bloom from early summer to autumn. Can reach an height of 40 to 60cm (16 to 24inches) with a spread of 40cm (15 inches)

Scientific name:

Salvia coccinea

Alternative names blood sage, scarlet sage, Texas sage, or tropical sage