Salvia seed
Botanical Name: Salvia farinacea
Family: Laminaceae
Native: Texas, New Mexico
Hardiness: Perennial in USDA zones 8–10; usually grown as an annual.
Plant Dimensions: 20″ tall, 10″–18″ wide
Variety Information: ½” violet-blue flowers clustered densley along upright stems that rise above plant foliage.
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Bloom Period: Summer to frost
Attributes: Attracts Pollinators, Cut Flower, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Heat Tolerant
When to Sow Outside: 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date.
When to Start Inside: RECOMMENDED. 8 to 10 weeks before your average last frost date. Ideal soil temperature for germination is 70°–80°F.
Days to Emerge: 10–15 days
Seed Depth: Press into surface
Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 12″
Thinning: When 3″ tall, thin to 1 every 12″
Blue Victory’ has a wonderfully long bloom period, and with its deep violet-purple flowers looks absolutely incredible planted in mass or in containers. It attains a heights of only 20 and makes an excellent cut or dried flower. Does well in hot, humid climates and is fairly drought tolerant once established. This species, also called mealycup sage, grows on dry hillsides in Texas and New Mexico.
Salvia seed
Botanical Name: Salvia splendens
Family: Lamiaceae
Native: Brazil
Hardiness: Perennial in USDA zones 10 and 11; usually grown as an annual
Plant Dimensions: 24″ tall, 18″–22″ wide
Variety Information: ¾” scarlet-red flowers clustered densely along upright 10″ spikes that rise above plant foliage.
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Period: Summer to frost
Attributes: Attracts Pollinators, Cut Flower, Deer Resistant, Heat Tolerant
When to Sow Outside: 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date.
When to Start Inside: RECOMMENDED 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date.
Days to Emerge: 7–14 days
Seed Depth: Press into surface
Seed Spacing: A group of 4 seeds every 12″–18″
Thinning: When 1″ tall, thin to 1 every 12″–18″
Special Instructions: Deadheaded often (remove spent blossoms) to keep plants blooming robustly.
Special Care: Press seed into soil surface; do not cover with soil. Water gently or mist so as not to disturb the seed. When starting indoors, cover seed containers with clear plastic wrap to help retain moisture and keep the seed in place. Once seedlings emerge, remove the plastic wrap.
Light up your garden with the brilliant spikes of red, tubular flowers surrounded by lush green foliage. While most modern salvias are short and compact, ‘Early Bonfire’ is tall, making it a stand-out in the garden and cut-flower arrangements. A large planting creates a stunning impact that’s impossible to miss.