What is red salvia?

Red salvia, also known as scarlet sage, is a popular garden plant native to Brazil. It usually grows vertical, conical arrangements of red petals while flowering, although other color variations exist. They are only suitable for mild, sunny climates where frosts are rare and temperatures stay above freezing in winter.

The variation of red salvia grown in gardens is usually a dwarf variation of the natural plant, altered through selective breeding. The natural plant is several times larger than the cultivated variety. In its natural environment, it grows on mountains with consistently high temperatures and humidity at elevations of between 6,600 and 9,800 feet.