Garden and Flowers

This sage comes from the warmer regions of America, where it forms a complete shrub with loose growth. Because it is not hardy in north-west Europe and is so easy and quick to grow from seed, it is cultivated as an annual here. That gives it a totally different character, with its black-tinged square stems, their tips ablaze with red flowers, growing to a maximum height of 39 in. The color of the flowers is so blinding that it claims all one’s attention, and this form of sage may therefore be used on its own to provide an eye-catching focal point in a boring corner of the garden, or as a showpiece in a pot.

Professional growers sow in January to enable them to supply flowering plants in April. In that case, cultivation takes 10-12 weeks. Amateur gardeners are less likely to have appropriate lighting available, in which case it is better to wait until February or even March before sowing indoors at, for example, 60 °F. Grow the seedlings on at a slightly cooler temperature. This will prevent straggly growth and the plants you have sown will still flower in June. They are on sale in many places to provide earlier flowers.

Salvia coccinea likes warmth, but, in my opinion, looks its best if grown in partial shade, where the plants will be a little taller and acquire their characteristic loose growth. Unfortunately, however, plant breeders have adopted a different course to please the commercial market. Modern cultivars are often considerably more compact and therefore more attractive to professional nurserymen, who can market them in convenient packs. To give these plants back their natural charm, it is therefore best to put them in a slightly shaded spot in very nutritive soil.

Salvia coccinea ‘Lady in Red’ is a compact cultivar that won a prize in 1992. It grows to a mere 10 in high, according to some catalogues. Fortunately, it does not stay as small as that in all circumstances. In a position away from bright sunlight, and in richly fertilized soil, it will be really beautiful, with flowers that may be even brighter than those of the species.

Salvia coccinea ‘Rose-Salmon’ is cultivated all too rarely, in my opinion. The flowers of this treasure are bicolored - white at the top with a touch of pale pink and salmon pink at the bottom. They are magnificent, but it is difficult to get hold of either the plants or the seed, although it is worthwhile hunting for them.

Salvia coccinea ‘Coral Nymph’ is a comparable cultivar, with brighter coral pink flowers. Salvia coccinea ‘Snow Nymph’ has genuinely snow-white flowers. The plants grow to about 2-16 in high. They look their best in partial shade, where they will grow a little taller and light up beautifully.