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Family: Lamiaceae (lay-mee-AY-see-ee) (Info) Genus: Salvia (SAL-vee-uh) (Info) Species: coccinea (kok-SIN-ee-uh) (Info) Cultivar: Lady in Red
Bloom Time: Mid Summer Late Summer/Early Fall Mid Fall Blooms repeatedly
Foliage: Herbaceous
Other details: This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information: Non-patented
Propagation Methods: From seed; sow indoors before last frost From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting: Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
In my zone 10 Southern California garden, this plant is a woody perennial sub-shrub. At the end of each season, the foliage looks pretty tired, so I cut the plants back to about 5" and let them resprout. However, since they grow so quickly and are available in six-packs at Lowe's, a lot of people prefer to start fresh each spring. This plant seems to be continually putting out flowers whether or not you choose to dead head spent blossoms. It also tolerates clay soil.
I was surprised to find that this salvia grows and blooms well in pretty heavy shade (much better than the farinacea or splendens types.) The plants are more robust and flower more in full sun, but plants receiving only two hours of sun a day also bloomed well. However, slugs were a problem on plants in the shade garden.
On Oct 6, 2009, tinytwist from Eureka, CA (Zone 8b) wrote:
My daughter gave me a volunteer seedling that was growing in the crack of an asphalt parking lot. It has done great in my garden and the flowers are just as blazing red as the ones on the mother plant. This is a tough, easy to grow plant in the sun and the hummingbirds love it!
On Oct 18, 2007, tucsonjill from Lincoln, NE (Zone 5a) wrote:
Self-sows very freely, although many seeds are eaten by birds--I see lots of finches having snacks! My experience is that the color holds true in subsequent generations. I also find larger plants overwintering in sheltered locations in our zone 8b/9a location. Also very easy to transplant seedlings, they bounce back quickly and settle in to their new homes nicely.
On Jan 1, 2005, missmuffit from Des Moines, IA (Zone 5a) wrote:
Love this salvia and the hummingbirds jockey for postiion over it.
It has persisted by self sowing for three years here in my zone 5A garden. Each spring many, MANY seedlings sprout up, but they are easily managed. It does not come true from the self sown seed. Subsequent plants have been a more washed out red but still pretty - and the hummingbirds still love 'em!
I buy new seed stock each year of Lady in Red to get that true red color.
I planted 10 of these from seed,three years ago here in Dallas in a south facing garden. Very easy from seed. They make bright neon-red background flowers, but stems are unattractive and should be hidden behind other growth. They return every mid spring and bloom until the first hard frost, peaking in 60-80 degree fall weather. One problem I've had: can become invasive.
On Aug 31, 2002, Terry from Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) wrote:
Grew from seed this year; bloomed very well in a partially-shaded north-facing bed. Color is nice, especially with the blue salvias like S. guaranitica and S. farinacea
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Chandler, Arizona Gilbert, Arizona (2 reports) Tempe, Arizona Tucson, Arizona Camarillo, California Clayton, California Palm Springs, California Sacramento, California Santa Ana, California Milford, Delaware Brooker, Florida Pensacola, Florida South Daytona, Florida Williston, Florida Braselton, Georgia Lawrenceville, Georgia Indianapolis, Indiana Des Moines, Iowa Derby, Kansas Barbourville, Kentucky Hebron, Kentucky New Orleans, Louisiana Lake View, Maine Laytonsville, Maryland Riverside, Maryland St Paul, Minnesota Lincoln, Nebraska Ramblewood, New Jersey Beaufort, North Carolina Bucyrus, Ohio Comanche, Oklahoma Gold Hill, Oregon Conway, South Carolina Moncks Corner, South Carolina Rockwood, Tennessee Broaddus, Texas Brownsville, Texas Bulverde, Texas Deer Park, Texas Doyle, Texas Eagle Mountain, Texas (2 reports) Flint, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Houston, Texas (2 reports) Mont Belvieu, Texas New Braunfels, Texas Pasadena, Texas San Antonio, Texas Shady Shores, Texas Trinity, Texas Farr West, Utah West Valley City, Utah Basye, Virginia Mc Lean, Virginia Kalama, Washington Shoreline, Washington Madison, Wisconsin Pewaukee, Wisconsin
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