''Salvia coccinea'', the blood sage, scarlet sage, Texas sage, or tropical sage, is a herbaceous perennial in the family

Lamiaceae The Lamiaceae ( ) or Labiatae are a family (biology), family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle, or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and include widely used culinary herbs like basil (herb), ba ...

that is widespread throughout the

Southeastern United States The Southeastern United States, also known as the American Southeast or simply the Southeast, is a geographical List of regions in the United States, region of the United States located in the eastern portion of the Southern United States and t ...

, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America (Colombia, Peru, and Brazil). At one time Brazil was considered to be where it originated, but its diploid chromosome count now points to Mexico as its place of origin.

Taxonomy

Its specific epithet, ''coccinea'', means "scarlet-dyed" (Latin), referring to the color of its flowers.

Description

The plant reaches in height, with many branches, and a spread of about . The hairy leaves, scalloped on the edges, are pea green, varying in size, all the way up to long and wide. Flower color and size is quite variable. The naturalized variety is typically tubular, bright red, about long. Flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds and butterflies.

Cultivation

''Salvia coccinea'' is commonly grown as an annual species. It is cultivated in urban green areas as well as in private gardens around the world. It has a long flowering period, from the start of summer to the end of autumn. Cultivated varieties include orange-red, pink, salmon, red, white, and scarlet, as well as bi-colored varieties. The plant can survive winter in

USDA Hardiness Zones A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants. In some systems other statistics are included in the calculations. The original and most widely ...

Zones 8–10.Fine Gardening: Salvia coccinea (Texas sage, Hummingbird sage)
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References

External links

''Salvia coccinea'' in Native Plant Database at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center''Salvia coccinea'' information page at University of Florida Extension
* coccinea Plants described in 1777 Butterfly food plants Garden plants of North America Flora of Brazil Flora of the Caribbean Flora of Central America Flora of Colombia Flora of Florida Flora of Mexico Flora of Peru Flora of Texas Flora of the Southeastern United States Flora without expected TNC conservation status {{Salvia-stub