Texas sage (Salvia coccinea, Salv.: 23 (1777))

Family: Lamiaceae

Author: Buc’hoz ex Etl.

Bibliography: Salv.: 23 (1777)

Year: 1777

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Salvia

Vegetable: False

Observations: SE. U.S.A. to N. Argentina

Description

Texas sage, known scientifically as Salvia coccinea, is a vibrant and attractive plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae family. This species, recognized and documented by Buc’hoz ex Etl. in 1777, is celebrated for its brilliant scarlet red flowers that add a striking splash of color to gardens and natural landscapes.

Native to the Southeastern United States, Texas sage’s range extends all the way to Northern Argentina. This wide distribution is indicative of its adaptability and hardiness in various climates and soil conditions. The plant thrives in both wild settings and cultivated gardens, often found flourishing in meadows, forest edges, and disturbed areas.

Salvia coccinea is a herbaceous perennial that typically reaches heights of about 2 to 3 feet, making it an excellent choice for borders, mass plantings, and pollinator gardens. Its ovate, slightly serrated leaves, which emit a mild aroma when crushed, provide a lush green backdrop to the vivid flowers. The blooms themselves are tubular and arranged in loose, terminal racemes, attracting a host of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

One of the notable features of Texas sage is its long blooming period. From late spring to the first frosts of autumn, the plant produces a continuous display of red blossoms, especially when regularly deadheaded to encourage new growth. This extended flowering season makes it a favorite among gardeners seeking to maintain vibrant, colorful gardens across multiple seasons.

Moreover, Texas sage is known for its low maintenance requirements, which adds to its appeal. It performs well in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil, though it can tolerate poorer soils and drought conditions once established. This resilience makes it a suitable option for xeriscaping and other water-wise landscape designs.

In addition to its horticultural uses, Salvia coccinea holds cultural significance in certain regions and is occasionally utilized in traditional medicine. Given its enduring beauty and practical benefits, Texas sage continues to be a cherished component of diverse landscapes from the southeastern United States all the way to northern reaches of Argentina.

Common Names

Eng: blood sage, scarlet sage, texas sage, red salvia, tropical sage, wild salvia
Spa: mirto-coral
Por: sálvia-coral
Fra: sauge écarlate
Swe: scharlakanssalvia
En: Texas sage, Red salvia, Tropical sage, Scarlet sage, Wild salvia, Blood sage, Red sage, Sage, Momili, Cherry Red Sage
Zh: Zhu chun, 朱唇, 紅花鼠尾草
Cs: Šalvěj šarlatová
Fr: Sauge écarlate, Sauge du Texas
De: Scharlachroter Salbei
Ja: Beni-bana-sarubia
Pt: Sálvia-Coral
Sk: Šalvia šarlátová
Es: Škrlatna kadulja, Mirto-coral
Sv: Scharlakanssalvia
Zh-tw: 紅花鼠尾草
To: Teʻekosi
Zh-hant: 朱唇

Synonyms

• Salvia mollissima (M.Martens & Galeotti)
• Salvia pseudococcinea (Jacq.)
• Horminum coccineum ((Buc’hoz ex Etl.) Moench)
• Salvia coccinea pumila (Barr & Sugden)
• Salvia filamentosa (Tausch)
• Salvia galeottii (M.Martens)
• Salvia superba (E.Vilm.)
• Salvia glaucescens (Pohl)
• Salvia coccinea f. pseudococcinea ((Jacq.) Voss)
• Salvia coccinea var. pseudococcinea ((Jacq.) A.Gray)
• Salvia rosea (Vahl)
• Salvia coccinea var. minima (Fernald)

Distribution

• Alabama (native)
• Argentina Northeast (native)
• Argentina Northwest (native)
• Bahamas (native)
• Belize (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Brazil West-Central (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Cuba (native)
• Dominican Republic (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• Florida (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Haiti (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Jamaica (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• Paraguay (native)
• Peru (native)
• Puerto Rico (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• Texas (native)
• Trinidad-Tobago (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Malawi (introduced)
• Malaya (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Mozambique (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Guinea (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Philippines (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Sulawesi (introduced)
• Sumatera (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Tonga (introduced)
• Tuamotu (introduced)
• Tubuai Is. (introduced)
• Uganda (introduced)
• Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Zambia (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flower

Taken Oct 18, 2020 by Carmen Villacañas (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 8, 2021 by Thierry Thierry Bessière (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 5, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 22, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 31, 2020 by Jean-Louis BERNARD (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Nov 22, 2021 by Boris Camerling (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 22, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 5, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 22, 2021 by Bojan Runtic (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 5, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Apr 9, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 26, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 3, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 9, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 12, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain PIRY (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Sep 13, 2021 by Ling TAN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 2, 2022 by Vicky Floyd (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 3, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 2, 2022 by Vicky Floyd (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 6, 2021 by Veronica Ursula Guzman (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Oct 31, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 22, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Oct 26, 2019 by Laurie Bates-Frymel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 12, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain PIRY (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/9278365)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:455978-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Salvia coccinea Buc’hoz ex Etl.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Subshrub, Forb/herb

Growth