General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Plant Height: 10-12 inches
Plant Spread: 9-12 inches
Leaves: Fragrant
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Red
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Other: Deadheading flowers ensures more flowering throughout the season.
Uses: Cut Flower
Suitable as Annual
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Propagation: Seeds: Sow in situ
Start indoors
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Containers: Suitable in 1 gallon
Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Suitable for hanging baskets
Needs excellent drainage in pots

Image
Common names
  • Scarlet Sage
  • Scarlet Salvia
  • Red Sage
  • Red Salvia

'St. John's Fire' was a featured
Plant of the Day for June 1, 2016.
Photo Gallery
Location: Chippewa, PA
Date: 2015-09-14
End of season volunteer
Location: Lancaster PA 
Date: May 2022
Location: My zone 3a garden
Date: 2013-08-09
Location: My zone 3a garden
Date: 2013-06-10

 Photo Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Used with permissi
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: My zone 3a garden
Date: 2013-06-13
Comments:
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Jun 28, 2020 10:35 AM concerning plant:
    I found this cultivar listed in my old Ball Seed 1976 Catalog, listed as a dwarf that gets about 12 inches high, and it is still sold in this early 21st century. The new Vista Series is so similar of being the same kind of dwarf selection. Neither seem to attract hummingbirds.
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on May 12, 2019 11:57 AM concerning plant:
    I have planted this very dwarf cultivar or a similar cultivar of Scarlet Sage a few times in pots on my back deck to make the Ruby-throated Hummingbird happy for a nectar source. She looks at it, but does not do anything with it. She does love the Black & Blue Anise-flowered Sage a lot and also the orange flowered Cigar-Plant Cuphea. I remember how Hummingbirds just adored the larger cultivars of Scarlet Sage decades ago that were anywhere from 18 to 36 inches high. I don't know why the gardening public decided to just go for these dwarf cultivars. The bigger plants look better and are much more glorious. This species should never be grown under 18 inches high. These new dwarf cultivars seem to have a different flower structure in them that may be inhibiting the hummingbirds. I don't think I have seen any kind of bee interested in this either. Otherwise, it is a pretty little plant, but I want bigger.
Plant Events from our members
vbprog On April 10, 2015 Plant emerged
vbprog On April 2, 2015 Seeds sown
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