Scarlet Sage
By LYNN ARTZ and SANDY TEDDER
Scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea) is still displaying its bright red flowers near the entrance to Sopchoppy Depot Park. Its charming, 1-inch, tubular flowers are loosely arranged in whorls on upright stems. Also called red salvia and tropical sage, this southern native grows 1 to 3 feet tall. It blooms continuously from spring through fall. In warm areas, it can bloom year-round. Scarlet sage attracts butterflies, bumblebees, and hummingbirds. This member of the mint family is easy to grow, adapts to a variety of conditions, and readily reseeds. It is drought tolerant and deer resistant. Although scarlet sage has not been found in the wild in Wakulla County, it has been documented in the wild in Gadsden, Leon, and Jefferson counties and other counties in Florida.