Sage

Salvia coccinea

Native to:
Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Lamiaceae
Genus:
Salvia
Species:
Salvia coccinea
USDA Symbol:
SASU11

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
90 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct,nov
Bloom Colors:
red, pink, white, coral

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: American bumble (Bombus pensylvanicus), Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), Two-spotted Longhorn (Melissodes bimaculatus), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), Xylocopa micans, Xylocopa strandi, Xylocopa tabaniformis Hummingbirds: Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) Moths:Pyrausta inornatalis Butterflies:Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus), Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), Eastern Giant (Heraclides cresphontes), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Julia butterfly (Dione vanillae), Large Orange Sulphur (Phoebis agarithe), ⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), Queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus), Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe), Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
hummingbirds, butterflies, bees
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fragrant:
Yes

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Germination Time:
10–21 days
Notes:
Seeds germinate readily with light; surface sow and do not cover deeply. Warm temperatures (70-75°F) improve germination rates.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months. Requires light / surface sow (fine seed).

Source: Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy Plant Society