Salvia coccinea Summer Jewel Pink

Bushy and compact, the Salvia coccinea 'Summer Jewel Pink', also known as Summer Jewel Pink Texas sage, is a short-lived perennial plant most commonly grown as an annual. This recent variety stands out for its rapid flowering and more compact habit. Its diaphanous flowers, very fresh pale pink, appear from June to October, gathered on long upright spikes above a hairy and aromatic, heart-shaped foliage. While this plant, very nectar-rich, is valuable for natural gardens, it is also stunning in perennial or annual flower beds and containers. It will thrive in light, well-drained soil, even sandy, and in full sun.

The Salvia coccinea, sometimes called scarlet sage, is a plant from the mint family probably native to Mexico, which has become naturalised in the southeastern United States and various states in South America. This naturally polymorphous plant has given rise to numerous horticultural selections. The 'Summer Jewel Pink' cultivar is the latest addition to the Summer Jewel series, and a beautiful horticultural achievement often awarded by professional juries. It is a short-lived herbaceous plant, erect and bushy, 45 cm (18in) tall and 30 cm (12in) wide. The entire plant is fragrant. The flowering period extends from June to October. The tubular and bilabiate flowers are arranged in fairly loose whorls along a vertical stem emerging from the foliage. The corolla displays a fresh and delicate pale pink hue, accentuated by prominent white stamens. The flowers are followed by the formation of tiny brown seeds, hidden in the calyxes. The decussate leaves (opposite leaves whose successive pairs cross at right angles) are arranged in a staggered pattern on the stem, and are born in pairs. They are pubescent, heart-shaped or triangular, with dentate margins.

The Texas sage is an original species with a light and refined appearance. It is the queen of sunny and somewhat dry locations, like its cousins Salvia officinalis or Salvia microphylla, with which it will create beautiful, very natural flower beds. It can be sown with cornflowers, blue perennial flax, centaureas or snapdragons to quickly create very colorful displays. Its naturally compact habit makes it an ideal variety for pots or planters.