Salvia Vista™ Red

Salvia splendens Vista™ Red

Characteristics

Culture

Salvia Vista™ Red is a tender perennial that is winter hardy to USDA Zones 10-11. In cooler areas, grow as a warm weather annual in average, evenly moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Salvia Vista Red has masses of beautiful spikes of red flowers rising above the foliage from late spring to early fall. This salvia is most effective when planted in groupings. Not fussy about soil, it flourishes in blazing sun, tolerating heat, drought, and other vagaries of the weather. The foliage is evergreen, and so in the coastal West and milder climates of the South it may overwinter and flower again the following spring, though the first year will be its most majestic.

Noteworthy Characteristics

This dwarf salvia is a continuous bloomer all season, but it must be deadheaded or cut for new buds to appear. So keep the plant looking fresh, and it will repay you with nonstop color from spring through summer and fall. It even persists through those deadly hot August weeks when others melt out.  Salvia splendens is native to Brazil. It is a clump-forming, tender perennial that grows on square, upright stems. Features long-tubed, red-bracted, bright red flowers in dense, erect, terminal racemes. from summer to fall. Oval, serrate, dark green leaves (to 3” long).

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems.

Garden Uses

Beds, borders, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, containers.