I thought I'd share my info y'all.

Salvia 'Forest Fire'
Posted on Sep 18, 2012 12:16 AM

While I was talking to Mom & Dad (who live in Lebanon, OH) last night, Mom was so excited about seeing a lot of Hummingbirds that were attracted to the Salvia 'Forest Fire' flowers (container I made for her for Mother's Day)! She has it on the patio and she and my Dad can see the Hummers from inside looking out the sliding glass door or while sitting on the patio.

Mom always wanted a container from me with Salvia 'Lady in Red' for Mom's Day, but this year I wasn't able to find it and got 'FF' instead.

They've moved from their house to a ground level condo in 2006 and the area doesn't have much, if anything, in the way of Hummingbird plants, including their patio. All the condos are ground level and have privacy fences around the patios. I think the Salvia I always pot up is the only plant she has every year that attracts Hummers (Mom always has a container that has big flowered Geraniums). The container sits low and in one of the corners. She said she never saw so many Hummers before! (even when they lived at their house for many years). They are so excited! They saw the Hummers chasing each other and saw a couple at a time, as well as, working each and every flower every day! I'm so happy for them!

I told Mom I'd be getting the 'Forest Fire' Salvia for all the future Mother's Day and for me also! The Hummers seem to be attracted more to it than the 'LIR' Salvia! This is my first year, as well, for 'FF'. I was able to find it locally here this year, but I may just start ordering it just to make sure I have it for her and me.

I have two containers of 'FF', one on my driveway and one on the patio. I've a lot of flowers attractive to Hummers. I try and plant more each year for the Hummers! I also have two feeders for the Hummers, one in the front and one in the back.

Rats. Why are all the ubercool salvias only zone 8?

Toni,

I grow a lot of Salvias and other plants in containers that aren't hardy here. Just because they're not hardy, doesn't mean you can't grow them. I even grow hardy plants in containers, just to enjoy them more!

Marilyn - No, it just means that I can't find them locally and I'm not ordering annuals... too expensive!!

DH would probably think that too, but he knows I buy and order a lot of plants to attract Hummers and Butterflies and he love seeing them here in the yard as much as I do.

I just hope he doesn't get mad at me for all the money I've spent so far on plants!

You probably can find a lot of plants locally, but for the ones I want, I can't.

Marilyn - actually, if you send me a list of what you are looking for, I'll keep my eyeballs open. I still need to send you a splitting of Purple Rain salvia.. it's gotten SOOO huge! it's like 3' around! I tried to root it, but I can't root anything other than coleuses.

Toni,

I have a sister in Boulder, CO and she'll bring me a couple of very small plants from the Denver/Boulder area like she did last May like she, but thanks!

I've so afraid you'll end up losing Purple Rain when you split it up like I did when I split mine up years ago.

Marilyn - It's a pretty common plant around here and I've *got* to split it anyways. It's way overgrowing the area I planted it in.. I was expecting it to be only 2', not 4' in every direction!

Year after year this seems to be one of our very most popular Salvias - for customers, hummingbirds, honeybees and visitors.

Last June we gave away 150 Salvia coccinea plants at one of our local Farmers' Markets as gifts for the hummingbirds. All were in bloom. Forest Fire ran out before any of the other varieties.

I suggest one or two pants as annuals are a good investment, as they have such a long blooming season and are so well loved by all. The real key is to plant them early so as to maximize the display.

Kermit

Very nice pic, Kermit!

I'm guessing that's the one from your website!

Forest Fire is such a wonderful Salvia!