Annual flower
Scarlet Sage plant profile
Salvia coccinea
An annual flower for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Scarlet Sage
Grow in full sun to partial shade in sandy, fertile, well-drained soil; it tolerates clay if it drains well. It is perennial in warm climates but is grown as an annual where winters freeze, blooming from early summer to first frost and reseeding easily.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Scarlet Sage in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6 to 8
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Spacing
- 12 to 36 in apart
- Hardiness
- Zones 8a to 10bFind my hardiness zone
Next steps
Continue with Scarlet Sage
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Salvia coccinea (Bloody Sage, Indian Fire, Red Sage, Scarlet Sage)
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.