Salvia fulgens

RHS Plant Profile
Mexican scarlet sage

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Salvia fulgens?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
Mexican scarlet sage RHS
Mexican scarlet sage RHS 1993
Mexican scarlet sage RHS

Other common names

Mexican red sage

Synonyms

Salvia cardinalis

Award of Garden MeritPlants for pollinators
Conservatory Greenhouse Shrubs
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
5 Suppliers

A small, erect, bushy evergreen sub-shrub with light green oval leaves 3-8cm in length, and brilliant scarlet, hairy, tubular flowers 3cm in length, arranged in well-spaced whorls forming racemes to 45cm in length

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H3
Drought Resistance
Yes

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Salvia can be annuals, biennials, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, or shrubs. They have paired, simple or pinnately lobed, often aromatic leaves and 2-lipped flowers in whorls, forming simple or branched spikes or racemes
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Mexico

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass grow in peat-free compost, in full light with shade from hot sun. During growth, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. Keep just moist in winter and maintain low to moderate humidity. Can be grown outdoors in frost-free areas in moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist-but-well-drained soil. Protect form cold, drying winds and excessive winter wet. See our video How to care for tender salvia for more advice

Propagation

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

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Cut flowers
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 9 in spring; cut back spent flower spikes to prolong flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to sage leafhopper, slugs, snails and rosemary beetle

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), powdery mildews, verticillium wilt and foot and root rots