Who grows this & is it perennial or annual for you? I ask b/c the db says perennial but I have it & last year it died making it an annual here for me.

'Bonfire' is a Salvia splendens variety and not Salvia coccinea. As such, it will only be hardy in zones 10-11. Technically, it is a perennial but in most areas it is "used as an annual." You can save seeds, though. If you have a greenhouse you could overwinter them but it's probably too much bother for something that's really common and easy to grow from seed. Salvias tend to be pest magnets when overwintering.

I am sooooo embarrassed at my goof calling it a coccinea. Don't know where my head was.

Thanks Danita, I did wonder why it was listed as perennial. I did save seed last year & actually, it self seeded so that was cool.

Personally, I wouldn't bother being embarrassed about using the wrong species name ... but then, I make so many bigger goofs to be embarrassed about.

Many plants we use as "annuals" in temperate zones are actually tropical perennials or perennials from other climates that don't freeze.

Self-seeding is a very nice surprise!

Danita said:Personally, I wouldn't bother being embarrassed about using the wrong species name ... but then, I make so many bigger goofs to be embarrassed about.

Many plants we use as "annuals" in temperate zones are actually tropical perennials or perennials from other climates that don't freeze.

Self-seeding is a very nice surprise!

tender perennial is another name known for those "annuals" also.

Yah, self seeding is always fun. Buy the seeds once & get free plants forevermore.