Roseleaf sage is a shrubby herbaceous perennial from the mountains of Mexico, grown for its large reddish bracts and flowers in late summer. It grows well in partial shade to sun with well-drained, humus-rich soil and deep, infrequent watering.
Family
Lamiaceae (Mint family)
Grows as
Perennial
Light
Part shade, Full sun
Water
Water deeply about once a week, letting the top of the soil dry between waterings.
Soil
Well-drained, humus-enriched soil.
Temperature
Frost-tender; protect below about 0 °C.
How easy
Easy
Native range
Mexico to Guatemala
Climate
seasonally dry tropical
About
Salvia involucrata, the roseleaf sage, is a species of flowering plant in the sage family Lamiaceae. This herbaceous perennial is native to the Mexican states of Puebla, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz, growing in shady places such as the edge of forests. Its specific epithet involucrata refers to the prominent flower bracts, which are large and colorful.
How to grow it
Salvia involucrata and its cultivars 'Bethellii' and 'Boutin' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. 'Bethellii' was introduced in 1881 for its compact habit and large ovoid leaves. Another cultivar, common in France and Britain, is 'Deschamsiana', which was chosen in 1869 for the bright rose color of its inflated flowers. Cultivars that have found popularity in the U.S. include 'Hidalgo', 'El Butano', and 'El Cielo'—each named after the place in Mexico where it was collected.
Salvia involucrata breeds freely with other Salvia species, resulting in many hybrids at University of California Botanical Garden that show hybrid vigor. Some of these hybrid plants are known to grow up to six feet high, with a longer blooming period. 'Mulberry Jam', a smaller hybrid with upright growth, stronger stems, and continuous blooming from summer to frost was introduced in 1995 by Betsy Clebsch.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Salvia involucrata by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.