Salvia confertiflora (Sabra Spike Sage) is a tender perennial with lance-shaped, scalloped, dark green leaves, 8 in. long (20 cm). Pungently-scented, they exude an unpleasant odor when bruised. In mid-summer to frost, slender spikes of small scarlet-orange flowers rise well above the foliage. The flower stalks and flowers are covered with velvety reddish-brown hairs. The blossoms provide a welcome splash of color in the late-season landscape. They are attractive to hummingbirds and look great in flower arrangements, both as a fresh cut flower or dried.

• Tender, this plant is hardy to zone 9 and is generally treated as an annual in cooler areas.
• Grows up to 4-6 feet tall and wide (120-180 cm).
• Enjoys full sun to light shade in well-drained soils. Provide regular weekly watering.
• Deer resistant, heat and drought tolerant.
• Prune heavily in winter or early spring.
• Keep an eye out for slugs and snails, capsid bug, rosemary beetle and leafhoppers.
• Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame in spring. Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring or early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or autumn with bottom heat.
• Native to Brazil.