Scarlet Sage Salvia splendens 'Van-houttei'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Salvia splendens 'Van-houttei', commonly known as scarlet sage, is a strikingly vibrant plant known for its brilliant display of flowers. The plant features lush, green foliage that presents a dense, compact appearance. The leaves are typically oblong or lance-shaped with a somewhat velvety texture, and they provide a rich backdrop for the flowers. The most distinctive aspect of scarlet sage is its brilliant, fiery red flowers. These flowers grow in tight, elongated clusters on inflorescences that rise above the foliage, creating a dramatic visual impact. Each individual bloom is tubular and lipped, a design that is particularly attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies who frequently visit the flowers for nectar. The bright red flowers, which are the highlight of the plant, contrast beautifully against the green leaves, making scarlet sage a popular choice for adding splashes of color to gardens, borders, and containers. This plant typically blooms from early summer through fall, providing a long-lasting display of color throughout the growing season.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Lamiaceae.
- Synonyms
  Scarlet Sage, Tropical Sage, Red Sage, Van-Houttei Sage.
- Common names
  Salvia splendens 'Van-Houttei'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Scarlet sage, which is the common name for Salvia splendens 'Van-houttei', is generally not considered toxic to humans. Therefore, ingestion of parts of this plant typically does not cause harm or result in poisoning symptoms. However, as with any plant, individual sensitivities can vary, and it's always prudent to avoid ingesting plants that are not specifically grown for consumption.
- To pets
  For pets, scarlet sage is also not known to be toxic. Similar to humans, ingestion of this plant is unlikely to result in poisoning symptoms for most animals, such as cats and dogs. It's important to note that individual reactions can differ, and it is wise to keep an eye on pets to ensure they don't consume large amounts of any non-food plant material, as it can potentially cause gastrointestinal upset or other issues.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Annuals
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Red
- Height
  1-3 feet (0.3-0.9 meters)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  10
- Native area
  Brazil

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal: Salvia splendens 'Van-houttei', commonly known as scarlet sage, provides vibrant red flowers that enhance the beauty of gardens and landscapes.
- Attracts Pollinators: The bright flowers are known to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and beneficial insects, promoting biodiversity.
- Easy Maintenance: Scarlet sage is relatively easy to care for, requiring minimal upkeep, which makes it suitable for novice gardeners.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, it exhibits some drought tolerance, making it suitable for xeriscaping and reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Container Gardening: It is well-suited for pots and containers, allowing for decorative flexibility on patios, balconies, and other confined spaces.
- Landscape Design: The plant's vibrant color and upright form can be used to create visual interest and focal points in garden beds and borders.
- Long Blooming Season: Scarlet sage has a prolonged flowering period, providing color from late spring through the first frost in many regions.
- Versatility: It can be used in a variety of garden styles, including formal, cottage, and contemporary gardens.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Insect Deterrent: Salvia splendens is known for its ability to repel certain insects, which can be useful in gardens to protect other plants.
- Eco-Friendly Dye: The flowers of the Scarlet sage can be used to create a natural red dye for fabrics or paper.
- Education and Research: Botany students and researchers may use the Scarlet sage to study plant morphology, flower structure, and pollination mechanisms.
- Culinary Garnish: While not widely recognized for its flavor, the bright flowers can make an attractive edible garnish in salads for a splash of color.
- Photography Subject: Its vibrant color and striking flowers make Scarlet sage a popular subject for photographers and botanical artists.
- Craft Projects: Dried Scarlet sage flowers can be used in various craft projects, including potpourri blends and handmade greeting cards.
- Hummingbird Attraction: Scarlet sage is known to attract hummingbirds, making it a great choice for bird watchers to plant in their gardens.
- Floral Arrangements: Fresh or dried, Scarlet sage adds a pop of color to bouquets and floral arrangements.
- Symbolic Planting: In some cultures, Scarlet sage flowers may be planted for symbolic reasons, such as remembrance or to honor a specific event.
- Companion Planting: Scarlet sage can serve as a companion plant to certain vegetables in gardens, possibly improving growth or flavor of those vegetables.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
Scarlet sage is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
Scarlet sage is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Wisdom: The genus name "Salvia" comes from the Latin word "salvere," meaning to heal or save, symbolizing wisdom and good health.
- Immortality: Historically, salvia has been associated with longevity and immortality, probably due to its medicinal properties and perennial nature.
- Healing: As an herb often used in traditional medicine, scarlet sage is known for its healing properties, symbolizing the ability to soothe and heal both physical and emotional ailments.
- Protection: In some cultures, scarlet sage is thought to offer protection against evil, as it was believed to have strong spiritual powers.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

10000 - 20000 Lux

Light

💦️

50%

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Scarlet Sage should be watered regularly but it's important not to overwater. Aim to keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged. During active growth in the warmer months, you may need to water about once a week, providing about 1 inch of water each time. Adjust according to weather conditions – water more frequently during hot, dry spells and reduce during rainy periods or cooler weather. It's best to water this plant in the morning to reduce evaporation and give the foliage time to dry, which can help prevent disease.
Light
Scarlet Sage thrives in full sun conditions, meaning it requires at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. A spot that provides ample morning light with some afternoon shade can be beneficial in hot climates to prevent leaf scorch. However, too much shade can lead to leggy plants and reduced flowering, so it's ideal to place your Scarlet Sage where it will receive plentiful sunlight for vibrant blooms.
Temperature
Scarlet Sage prefers warm conditions and grows best when temperatures are between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. It can tolerate a minimum temperature down to around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but frost can be harmful to the plant. Sustained temperatures below this minimum can damage or kill the plant, so provide frost protection or bring potted specimens indoors if temperatures are expected to fall.
Pruning
Pruning Scarlet Sage is essential to encourage bushier growth and more blooms. Pinch back the tips of the plant in the spring to promote branching, and deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage further blooming. A more substantial pruning can be done in early spring or after the first flush of flowers fades to rejuvenate the plant. The best time to prune is when new growth appears at the base or after any threat of frost has passed.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Scarlet Sage prefers well-drained, fertile soil with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0. A good soil mix for Scarlet Sage would be equal parts peat, loam, and sand or perlite for optimal growth.
Repotting
Scarlet Sage should be repotted every 1-2 years, or when it outgrows its current pot, to ensure enough space for root growth and adequate nutrient availability.
Humidity & Misting
Scarlet Sage thrives in moderate to high humidity levels, around 40-50%. It can benefit from occasional misting if grown indoors where the air tends to be drier.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright, indirect light with some morning sun.
- Outdoor
  Choose a sunny spot; keep soil moist but well-drained.
- Hardiness zone
  9-11 USDA.
Life cycle
Salvia splendens 'Van-houttei', commonly known as Scarlet Sage, begins its life as a seed, which when sown, germinates in warm conditions. After germination, the seedling develops a basic root system and cotyledons (seed leaves) before its true leaves emerge. As it grows, the Scarlet Sage enters the vegetative stage, developing a stem, more leaves, and a stronger root system. Once mature enough, the plant enters the flowering stage, producing vibrant red flowers that attract pollinators. After pollination, it sets seeds, completing the reproductive cycle. The plant may die back after seeding if it experiences unfavorable conditions or it may continue to grow as a perennial in some warmer climates.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to Summer
- Propogation: Scarlet sage, Salvia splendens 'Van-houttei', is most frequently propagated via seed. To do this effectively, gardeners should start the seeds indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date to give the plants a head start. Seeds should be sown in a light, well-draining seed starting mix, barely covering them with soil as they require light to germinate. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, and maintain the temperature at about 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit (21-24 Celsius). Germination usually occurs within two to three weeks. Once the seedlings have developed their second set of true leaves, they can be transplanted to individual pots and eventually moved outdoors once the threat of frost has passed.