| If you are a salvia lover than you must heard of salvia | | | | butterflies. They are inclined to cluster around stalks |
| divinorum and some of its special types such as Red | | | | that extend about eight inches above the foliage, and |
| salvia, often called scarlet sage, is a perennial plant that | | | | these tube like blooms occur from early summer until |
| isn’t shy about letting you know when it’s under | | | | the first frost of fall. Red salvia is a plant that will |
| some sort of botanical stress, because you will start to | | | | benefit greatly from mulching, and if your beds tend to |
| see symptoms in the form of blemishes, spots, or | | | | dry out in the sun, adding mulch to them will aid in |
| other leaf problems. The best way to avoid red salvia | | | | retaining moisture. This also helps deter weeds and |
| leaf problems is good care to begin with. | | | | keeps the roots cool. Often moisture can collect |
| Red salvia is a native Brazillian plant, and in temperate | | | | around the roots and if the sun’s heat is too intense |
| zones red salvia is considered an annual plant. Hard | | | | it can literally cook and kill the root systems of these |
| frosts will damage red salvia leaves and the plants | | | | fragile plants. |
| typically do not survive cold or harsh winters. While the | | | | Stakes will help preserve red salvias, as they tend to |
| scarlet variety is among the best known, red salvia | | | | become susceptible to wind and rain that can knock |
| often offers a colorful display of burgundy, pink, or | | | | down their branches, which become brittle with |
| lavender blooms. The red salvia can often reach 18-20 | | | | maturity. Tying the plant stems to the stake with a |
| inches in height. It is recommended that these plants be | | | | loose, soft string will help support branches well into |
| anchored in a sunny area in soil that provides good | | | | maturity. Salvias aren’t as demanding of nutrition as |
| drainage. Standing water can lead to root rot or to | | | | other plants, so they typically need very little fertilizing. |
| over-watering. | | | | However, their root systems are shallow and topsoil |
| If you do notice ragged, irregular holes in the leaves of | | | | can become dry quite rapidly. If rainfall is sparse during |
| your red salvia, it can indicate the presence of snails or | | | | summer months, supplemental watering will be |
| slugs in the soil. Unfortunately they are attracted to | | | | necessary. |
| moist, well-mulched flower beds, but you can control | | | | It is not necessary to prune or trim red salvia but you |
| them by setting out small dishes or plates of beer on | | | | can remove any faded or dying blooms and stalks if |
| the ground near the base of your plants. The yeast in | | | | desired by pinching the stalk’s stem off at the point |
| the beer attracts these pests, and they will crawl into | | | | where it joins the foliage. This is an effective technique |
| the beer and drown. | | | | to employ when seedlings are 3-4 inches and you |
| Red salvia is a popular bedding plant because of its | | | | desire a bushier, thicker growth. |
| showy blooms, which can also attract bees and | | | | |