Salvia coccinea
Encyclopedia
Salvia coccinea 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
). 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.
. In frost-free climates, flowers may be produced as early as February and continue through December. In other areas, flowering begins as days lengthen and continue until first frost in fall. While considered frost tender, light freezes will merely kill foliage, it takes a freeze below 20 degrees F. to kill them roots and all. Plants self-sow freely.
Plants grow best with plenty of sun and rich, well-drained soils. A wide selection of cultivar
s are available, including 'Lady in Red' (densely packed spikes
of scarlet flowers with whitish bract
s), 'Coral Nymph' (bicolored salmon pink and white flowers), and 'Snow Nymph' (white flowers).
Lamiaceae
The mints, taxonomically known as Lamiaceae or Labiatae, are a family of flowering plants. They have traditionally been considered closely related to Verbenaceae, but in the 1990s, phylogenetic studies suggested that many genera classified in Verbenaceae belong instead in Lamiaceae...
family that is widespread throughout the Southeastern United States
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, and northern South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
(Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
). 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.
Taxonomy
Its specific epithet, coccinea, means "scarlet-dyed" (Latin), referring to the color of its flowers.Description
The plant reaches 2 to 4 ft (0.6096 to 1.2 m) in height, with many branches, and a spread of about 2.5 ft (0.762 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. The naturalized variety is typically tubular, bright red, about 1.25 in (3.2 cm) long. Cultivated varieties include orange-red, pink, salmon, red, white, and scarlet, and include bi-colored varieties. Flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds and butterflies.Cultivation
In cultivation, the species is frost-tender and usually grown as an annualAnnual plant
An annual plant is a plant that usually germinates, flowers, and dies in a year or season. True annuals will only live longer than a year if they are prevented from setting seed...
. In frost-free climates, flowers may be produced as early as February and continue through December. In other areas, flowering begins as days lengthen and continue until first frost in fall. While considered frost tender, light freezes will merely kill foliage, it takes a freeze below 20 degrees F. to kill them roots and all. Plants self-sow freely.
Plants grow best with plenty of sun and rich, well-drained soils. A wide selection of cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s are available, including 'Lady in Red' (densely packed spikes
Raceme
A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...
of scarlet flowers with whitish bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
s), 'Coral Nymph' (bicolored salmon pink and white flowers), and 'Snow Nymph' (white flowers).