Create Your Garden

Salvia fulgens (Mexican Scarlet Sage)

Mexican Scarlet Sage, Mexican Red Sage, Cardinal Sage, Salvia cardinalis

Salvia Salvia fulgens, Mexican Scarlet Sage, Mexican Red Sage, Salvia cardinalis, Red Sage, Red Salvia, Fragrant Sage
Salvia Salvia fulgens, Mexican Scarlet Sage, Mexican Red Sage, Salvia cardinalis, Red Sage, Red Salvia, Fragrant Sage

Prized for its brilliant flowers, Salvia fulgens (Mexican Scarlet Sage) is a bushy evergreen sub-shrub with heart-shaped, light green leaves, up to 3 in. long (8 cm). Blooming from midsummer through fall, when most flowers have finished for the season, whorls of glistening, velvety, vibrant red, tubular flowers open on long flowering spikes, 18 in. (45 cm). Their electric color attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

  • Grows up to 4-5 ft. tall (120-150 cm) and 3 ft. wide (90 cm).
  • Performs best in full sun in moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist-but-well-drained soil. Best in full sun in cooler climates and partial shade in hot, dry climates. Protect from cold, drying winds and excessive winter wet.
  • Great for beds and borders, wall-side borders, city gardens, cottage gardens, gravel gardens, Mediterranean gardens, and containers.
  • No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for slugs, snails, and leafhoppers. Deer resistant.
  • Cut back nearly to the ground in early spring.
  • Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame in spring or root softwood cuttings in spring or early summer. Semi-hardwood cuttings can be taken in late summer or autumn, with bottom heat.
  • Salvia fulgens is native to Mexico.

Salvia: Plant Care and Growing Guide


Here are some tips on how to plant and grow salvia successfully

Requirements

Hardiness 9 - 12
Heat Zones 9 - 12
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Lamiaceae
Genus Salvia
Common names Sage
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid, Late), Fall
Height 4' - 5' (120cm - 150cm)
Spread 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spacing 36" (90cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Deer
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers, Wall-Side Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, City and Courtyard
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Salvia (Sage)
Guides with
Salvia (Sage)
Not sure which Salvia (Sage) to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Salvia nemorosa ‘Perfect Profusion’ (Sage)
Salvia Skyscraper Pink (Sage)
Salvia coccinea ‘Summer Jewel Lavender’ (Scarlet Sage)
Salvia Skyscraper Orange (Sage)
Salvia ‘Little Kiss’ (Sage)
Salvia involucrata ‘Bethellii’ (Rosy-Leaf Sage)

Recommended Companion Plants

Eucomis comosa ‘Reuben’ (Pineapple Lily)
Salvia confertiflora (Sabra Spike Sage)
Dahlia ‘Moonfire’
Crocosmia (Montbretia)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

50 Summer Wildflowers: Bright Blooms for Your Garden
50 Wildflowers that Thrive in Sun
50 Blue Wildflowers for Every Garden
50 Pink Wildflowers for Every Garden
50 Purple Wildflower to Brighten Your Garden
50 California Wildflowers: From Desert Blooms to Coastal Gems
50 Texas Wildflowers to Brighten Your Garden
Top 50 Most Beautiful Flowers Worldwide
Stunning Blue Flowers to Enhance Your Garden’s Beauty
Add a Splash of Color: Perfect Flowering Shrubs for Small Gardens
42 Best Perennial Flowers and Plants to Brighten Your Garden Every Season
30 Best Spring Flowers to Spruce up Your Garden
How to Create an Enchanting Butterfly Garden
For the Love of Butterflies: Best Flowers to Attract them to Your Garden
6 Reasons You Should Create a Butterfly Garden
Salvia (Sage)
Best Annual Flowers and Plants to Spruce up Your Garden
Hummingbird
Best Annual Flowers and Plants for Full Sun
Wonderful Plants That Repel Insects
Companion Planting With Herbs
Great Rose Companion Plants: Nepeta, Salvia and Lavandula
Hardy Perennial Salvias (Sage)
Salvia guaranitica (Blue Anise Sage)
Plants with Purple Flowers to Add Charm to Your Garden
Salvia: Plant Care and Growing Guide
Best Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 9 - 12
Heat Zones 9 - 12
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Lamiaceae
Genus Salvia
Common names Sage
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid, Late), Fall
Height 4' - 5' (120cm - 150cm)
Spread 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spacing 36" (90cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Deer
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers, Wall-Side Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, City and Courtyard
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Salvia (Sage)
Guides with
Salvia (Sage)
Not sure which Salvia (Sage) to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Salvia fulgens (Mexican Scarlet Sage) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Salvia fulgens (Mexican Scarlet Sage) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone