General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Annual
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Plant Height: 24 inches - 36 inches
Plant Spread: 18 - 24 inches
Leaves: Fragrant
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Red
Other: Green calyxes
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Other: Deadheading faded flower spikes ensures more flowering throughout the season
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Birds
Hummingbirds
Propagation: Seeds: Sow in situ
Start indoors
Can handle transplanting
Will not come true from seed
Other info: Soak seeds overnight. DS after last frost. Reseeds freely but not exactly true from seed.
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Awards and Recognitions: AAS (All-America Selection®): 1992 National
Other: 1992 Fleuroselect Gold Medal

Image
Common names
  • Scarlet Sage
  • Hummingbird Sage
  • Texas Sage

'Lady in Red' was a featured
Plant of the Day for September 8, 2015.
Photo Gallery
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2007-07-31
#pollination
Location: In my garden
Date: 2011-11-02
Location: Gardenfish garden
Date: August 2020
Photo by indygardengal

Date: 2011-01-30

photo credit: T.Voekler

Date: 2010-08-31
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2015-09-15
Location: In my garden in Kalama, Wa.
Date: 2006-10-02
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Gardenfish garden
Date: August 2020
Location: Gardenfish garden
Date: 2019-08-07
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2008-06-21
Location: Wilmington, Delaware USA
Date: 2016-08-14
Location: All pictures taken in my gardens
Date: 2016-09-16
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2008-06-21
My original photo.
Location: The Park - full sun garden
Date: 2015-05-19
Location: IL
Date: 2015-10-06
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2011-10-24
Six 20-inch containers of Lady in Red.  Three containers in front
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2011-10-06
Six 20-inch containers of Lady in Red. Three containers in front
Location: Oregon
Date: August 2012
Location: Oregon
Date: August 2012
Location: western Oregon
Date: spring 2014
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2008-06-01
Location: Kalama, Wa.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Lilburn, GA
Date: 2020-04-29
3 seedlings in pot
Location: Wilmington, Delaware USA
Date: 2016-08-13
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2013-04-25
This plant is literally a weed in Florida. I find it growing ever

Credit: Fleuroselect, used with permission
Location: The Park - full sun garden
Date: 2015-05-19
Location: Kalama, Wa
Date: 2006-09-25
  • Uploaded by joy
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2008-06-02
Closeup view of the buds.
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2008-06-02
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2007-11-04
Taken in the early evening.
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2010-06-06
Location: Wilmington, Delaware USA
Date: 2016-08-13
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2006-09-07
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2006-09-07
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2014-07-09
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2011-10-28
Location: Benicia, CA
Date: 2014-08-26
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by gardenfish (Arkansas - Zone 7b) on Nov 6, 2020 11:02 AM concerning plant:
    I have been growing this annual salvia since 2000, and it has re seeded reliably ever since. Although the data base entry states that it may not come true from re seeding, I have find it to be exactly the same as the original plant I planted in 2000. I have given away hundreds of seedlings, making this a top pass along plant. It takes heat and humidity with ease, and once established is fairly drought resistant. As long as it is kept dead headed, it will bloom until a hard frost takes it down in the late fall or winter. This is a very valuable plant for anyone wanting to attract butterflies or bees to their garden.
  • Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on Nov 10, 2011 4:58 PM concerning plant:
    This is my Mom's favorite, as well as mine. She always wants a container of 'Lady in Red' for Mother's Day from me every year. She and I love it, and the many hummingbirds that visit it love it too!

    It self sows, has many blooming flowers, is a beautiful color of red, and is easy to maintain.

    I plant many pots of it into containers, and the ones in the ground self sow from the previous year and I'll get more plants! Sometimes, it self sows from one container into another container and the next year, I'll get a new free plant!
  • Posted by gardenfish (Arkansas - Zone 7b) on Aug 10, 2019 9:56 AM concerning plant:
    I originally purchased this plant 20 years ago, and it willingly re-seeds itself every year. I have seen comments that it does not grow true from seed, but I can compare pictures I took then (with a throw away camera) to pictures I took recently with my I Pad and I can't see any difference. I have given away literally hundreds of seedlings; it is (to me) the ultimate pass along plant. Where I live the ruby-throated hummingbirds go nuts over it; they seem to prefer it over many other plants. It is a very tough plant, and drought resistant when established.
  • Posted by gardengus (Indiana Zone 5b) on Feb 10, 2013 7:24 AM concerning plant:
    I have grown this plant for several years. It is an annual here in zone 5 but self sows reliably .Hummingbirds favor this plant ,and the red color is a very vibrant addition to the garden.
    Seeds are small and a bit hard to collect (found deep into the tube structure of the flower) but are winter sown successfully.
  • Posted by Newyorkrita (North Shore, Long Island, NY ) on Oct 1, 2011 10:08 AM concerning plant:
    This lovely red salvia is very attractive to hummingbirds. Not hardy in my zone over the winter so I have to buy new plants if I want them each spring.

    Rita on the north shore of Nassau County on Long Island, New York in zone 6/7.
Plant Events from our members
taterpye On June 1, 2020 Bloomed
Large black squat pot on back porch. Planted with dead nettle
End of driveway
taterpye On April 11, 2020 Obtained plant
Gift from Karen Goldstein
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Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Pic Looks Like Salvia 'Lady In Red' by Marilyn Feb 3, 2013 10:16 PM 4

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