Salvia splendens Red Arrow

A perennial plant in its native Brazil, Salvia splendens 'Red Arrow', also known as brilliant sage, is cultivated as an annual in our climates. It offers a long flowering period with dense spikes adorned with scarlet red flowers on a beautiful backdrop of dark green leaves. Beneath this compact bush lies a dense, sturdy, and vigorous branching structure from the moment it sprouts. This variety is resistant to bad weather and brings joy to beginner gardeners. It should be planted in the sun, in borders or containers, in fresh, light, and well-drained soil.

Salvia splendens is an herbaceous plant from the Lamiaceae family, originating from the hot and humid regions of Brazil, between 2000 and 3000 meters (6562 and 9842 feet) above sea level. While it can reach 1.30 metres (4 feet) in its home country, in our climates, it forms an erect clump of stems that are 30cm (12in) tall and 25cm (10in) wide in just one season. The 'Red Arrow' variety stands out for its sturdy and round habit and its well-branched and particularly floriferous stems. This plant develops in small clumps of barely 28-30cm (11-12in) in all directions. Its four-angled stems are branching and erect. Its leaves cling to the stems along their entire length, and they are ovate to lanceolate, dentate, and dark green. The floral spikes rise above the foliage from late spring until the end of autumn. The tubular flowers are scarlet red, offering a wonderful contrast with the foliage.

The brilliant sage is a queen of flower beds, which everyone has encountered at some point, either in a neighbour's garden or in the flower beds of public spaces. If not overused, scattered in small groups among other plants with complementary colors (such as blue delphinium and the silver of Artemisias), it adds soul to flower beds, blooming even when summer perennials are resting. It also performs very well in pots, embellishing terraces, balconies, and containers.