Salvia coccinea

Salvia coccinea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Salvia
Species: S. coccinea
Binomial name
Salvia coccinea
Buc'hoz ex Etl.

Salvia coccinea, the blood sage,[1] scarlet sage, Texas sage, or tropical sage, is a herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae family that is widespread throughout the Southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America (Colombia, Peru, and Brazil).[2] At one time Brazil was considered to be where it originated, but its diploid chromosome count now points to Mexico as its place of origin.[3]

Taxonomy

Its specific epithet, coccinea, means "scarlet-dyed" (Latin), referring to the color of its flowers.[4]

Description

The plant reaches 2 to 4 ft (0.61 to 1.22 m) in height, with many branches, and a spread of about 2.5 ft (0.76 m). The hairy leaves, scalloped on the edges, are pea green, varying in size, all the way up to 3 in (7.6 cm) long and 2 in (5.1 cm) wide. Flower color and size is quite variable.[3] The naturalized variety is typically tubular, bright red, about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long.[5] Flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds and butterflies.[6]

Cultivation

Cultivated varieties include orange-red, pink, salmon, red, white, and scarlet, and include bi-colored varieties.[3] The plant is hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones Zones 8-10. [7]

References

  1. ↑ "Salvia coccinea". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "Salvia coccinea Buc'hoz ex Etl.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 1995-04-07. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
  3. 1 2 3 Clebsch, Betsy; Barner, Carol D. (2003). The New Book of Salvias. Timber Press. pp. 82–84. ISBN 978-0-88192-560-9.
  4. ↑ Holloway, Joel Ellis; Neill, Amanda (2005). A Dictionary of Common Wildflowers of Texas & the Southern Great Plains. TCU Press. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-87565-309-9.
  5. ↑ Nelson, Gil (2005). East Gulf Coastal Plain Wildflowers. Globe Pequot. p. 212. ISBN 978-0-7627-2718-6.
  6. ↑ "#507 Salvia coccinea". Floridata. Retrieved 2010-01-29.
  7. ↑ Fine Gardening: Salvia coccinea (Texas sage, Hummingbird sage)

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