Today's Salvias of the Day is Salvia (Salvia cinnabarina).

This plant can be found in the ATP Plant Database at:
Salvia (Salvia cinnabarina) .

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Salvia (Salvia cinnabarina)

Beautiful red flowers. Haven't grown this beauty yet.

This plant grows in a very unusual way. The first year it just spreads out rapidly, no more than 6 inches tall. It can make a carpet 12 feet plus across in one season. Then, in the second year and beyond it sends up absolutely vertical stems that flower at their tops. I've seen these 12 feet tall in shady, well supported clumps. Generally six feet is max. Two entirely different growth forms. Ours is blooming like crazy now.

I'm not in the frost-free areas, guess this isn't for me, too bad, no greenhouse.

@FBTS

I read from some online links, that it grows and blooms from spring through fall, but on your site you mention spring and winter, that's why I didn't get it before. It would only be an annual (tender perennial) with each plant for me.

On the ATP database listing for this salvia, it reads:

Flower Time:

Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Late fall or early winter

Is this incorrect? If so, then it needs to be corrected.

There are salvias that I'd love to grow but, since I'm zone 6a and don't have a greenhouse I can't.

I learned the hard way to be cautious about the Mexican salvias. Some I can grow and some not, so I always look up hardiness info, even if it's sold in San Antonio nurseries. I'm in the colder hills, while some in the San Antonio area have a slightly warmer climate.

This one blooms whenever it chooses, in flushes.

@FBTS

Do you think if I grew it here, could I get flowering from it late spring through fall?

This one needs to establish before it starts blooming with authority. The second season and beyond is where it starts to shine. This is probably not a good choice for Zones below 9.

Thanks for your info, Kermit.