Scarlet Sage - Salvia Coccinea

Approximate seeds per pound: 275,000
Seeding rate: Plant this wildflower seed at 8 pounds per acre
Height: Up to 3 ft.
Flower Color: Red
Plant Type: Perennial in warm areas. Grown as annual in colder regions.
Flower Type: Tubular lipped flowers
Bloom Time: Mid-season
Is this wildflower invasive? No
Is this wildflower endangered? No
Is this wildflower edible? No
Is this wildflower medicinal? Yes
Regions: All regions of North America.
Zones: 6 - 9
Soil preference: Adaptable, but prefers gritty, fast-draining conditions.
Sun/Shade: Needs full sun.
Moisture Requirements: Average moisture, well-drained.
Germination: 10 - 30 days
Optimum soil temperature for germination: 68F - 75F
Sowing depth: Sow this wildflower seed at 1/16"

Scarlet sage is a subshrub perennial in warmer climates and an annual where winter temperatures stay below freezing for more than a few hours at a time. Scarlet sage reaches 2 - 3 ft tall, with 1 - 2 inch triangular leaves on long petioles (leaf stems) opposite each other on a square stem. The showy flowers are bright red, about an inch long, and arranged in loose whorls along the upright stem. Blooms appear continuously from early summer to first frost. One of the true scarlet wildflowers.

Scarlet sage is a good bedding plant and useful in borders where brilliant color is desired. This American mint is especially desirable in natural area gardens where it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and maintains itself year after year without dominating or becoming invasive. Wildflower seeds of scarlet sage remain in the soil and germinate continuously all year except during freezing temperatures. Scarlet sage is just one of dozens of sages grown in the wildflower garden. Most are tough and durable and most are attractive to butterflies and many to hummingbirds as well.