Scarlet Sage

Scarlet Sage (Salvia coccinea), also known as Tropical Sage, is a warm-weather standout with showy red tubular blooms that keep gardens vibrant from midsummer through fall frost. Though technically a tender perennial, it’s often grown as an annual or reseeds reliably in warmer zones. Its soft, scalloped foliage and loose, upright habit add a wild, cottage-garden charm.

This plant’s value isn’t just visual: its nectar-rich flowers are beloved by hummingbirds and butterflies, making it a magnet for pollinators wherever it grows. In southern states, it may return each year, while in colder zones it’s worth replanting for its extended bloom season and ecological payoff. It thrives in lean soils and handles dry spells well once established.

• Deadhead or trim back mid-season to encourage reblooming.
• Allow some seedheads to mature if you want it to self-sow.
• Protect from frost in cooler zones; not reliably perennial beyond Zone 7.