{"product_id":"scarlet-sage-seeds","title":"Scarlet Sage \"Hummingbird Sage\" (Salvia coccinea) Seeds – Native Wildflower, Bright Red Blooms, Heat \u0026 Drought Tolerant, Deer-Resistant","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e50+ Seeds\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe Hummingbird Magnet That Ignores Heat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWhile other flowers wilt under summer's worst, Scarlet Sage just keeps blooming, sending up spikes of brilliant red flowers that hummingbirds track down from a distance. This native wildflower thrives in exactly the heat and drought that shut down less resilient annuals, flowering nonstop from early summer into fall without asking for much beyond sun. Deer generally leave it alone, pollinators can't, and it self-seeds readily enough to return year after year, a genuine low-maintenance workhorse for hot, dry gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho Grows Scarlet Sage?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe hummingbird gardener wanting a genuine, reliable magnet for hummingbird visits all summer.\u003cbr\u003eThe heat and drought-prone climate gardener needing a plant that performs through summer stress.\u003cbr\u003eThe native wildflower gardener wanting an authentic species for a naturalized bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat This Heat-Tolerant Native Wildflower Actually Is\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eSalvia coccinea\u003c\/em\u003e, called scarlet sage or hummingbird sage, is a native wildflower found across the southeastern and south-central US, grown as an annual or short-lived perennial depending on climate. Plants grow bushy and upright, 1 to 3 feet tall, with soft, slightly fuzzy foliage and tall spikes of tubular, bright red flowers blooming continuously from early summer until frost. Its tubular flower shape suits hummingbird pollination, and the plant is a reliable draw for hummingbirds throughout the season, alongside bees and butterflies. It tolerates heat, humidity, and drought exceptionally well once established, and its aromatic foliage makes it generally unappealing to deer. Hardy as a perennial in zones 8 through 11, grown as a heat-loving annual elsewhere and often self-seeding where conditions allow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn the Garden \u0026amp; Landscape\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHummingbird garden:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant in drifts near a window or seating area for close-up hummingbird visits.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeat and drought landscaping:\u003c\/strong\u003e Use in a bed that bakes in summer sun where many annuals struggle.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDeer-resistant border:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant where deer pressure limits other flowering options.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePollinator support:\u003c\/strong\u003e Let plants bloom continuously from summer to frost for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative wildflower planting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Include as an authentic species in a native or naturalized bed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSelf-seeding annual patch:\u003c\/strong\u003e Let some plants go to seed for a returning, naturalizing colony.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Scarlet Sage Seeds\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStart method:\u003c\/strong\u003e Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, or direct sow after frost danger passes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGermination:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sprouts in 14-21 days; light aids germination, so press seed rather than burying deep.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil temperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Best 70-80°F.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunlight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun to part shade.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tolerates poor, average, sandy soil; avoid rich or wet ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatering:\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought-tolerant once established; water sparingly beyond the first weeks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e Space plants 12-18 inches apart for bushy growth.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom time:\u003c\/strong\u003e Flowers continuously from early summer to first frost.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDeadheading:\u003c\/strong\u003e Not required for continued bloom, though it tidies plants and encourages fuller growth.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSelf-seeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Reseeds readily in favorable climates, often returning without replanting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Perennial in zone 8 and warmer; grown as a heat-loving annual in colder climates.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeat tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Genuinely thrives in high heat and humidity that stress other flowering annuals.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBefore You Close This Page\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is the flower that performs hardest exactly when the garden needs it most, blooming nonstop through the hottest, driest stretch of summer while hummingbirds check in daily. Scarlet Sage delivers months of vivid red bloom, genuine drought tolerance, and a reputation deer generally respect, all from an easy native wildflower grown from seed. It self-seeds where welcome and asks for little beyond sun once established. Grow the sage that turns brutal summer heat into its best season.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"terramatergardens","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54436153164094,"sku":"11619","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/8836\/7166\/files\/candles-5830.png?v=1789169703","url":"https:\/\/www.terramatergardens.com\/products\/scarlet-sage-seeds","provider":"Terra Mater Gardens","version":"1.0","type":"link"}