Salvia coccinea...

You may have guessed by now that most of what I grow are perennials. I like perennials. You plant them and if they are happy, you have a friend for a long time. Annuals are a different story. They are fickle. Plant them, they bloom gloriously for a few months and then they decide they don't want to hang around your garden any more. Maybe that's why Tony Avent says, "Friends don't let friends buy annuals."




As a reader of my blog, I am sure that you are aware that I don't live completely by that adage. There are a few, just a few, annuals that I do grow. And one of those is Salvia coccinea.



But the thing about Salvia coccinea is that it truly is my friend: it keeps coming back every year. And in multiples. I don't consider it weedy, though.



I first discovered Salvia coccinea as 'Texas Hummingbird Sage' in a Seeds of Change catalog. At the time, I was planning a hummingbird garden for just outside the back door of my house in California. I grew 'Texas Hummingbird Sage' from seed and was very pleased.




So, of course, when I moved here, I wanted to have this favorite for the hummers here, too. And as you can see, I do! I also have grown S. coccinea 'Coral Nymph,' which is a coral-ish pink, both from seed and from nursery six-packs. And a couple of years ago, I bought white S. coccinea, but I can't remember what it was called.




Anyhow, they all reseed very nicely for me. And I think they are mixing a little for I see slight variations in the shades of reds and pinks.




If it weren't for the hummingbirds, I wouldn't have started considering red flowers for my garden. But the hummers love these flowers. And so do the honey bees and bumble bees. I guess that means Salvia coccinea is here to stay.


Have a beautiful day!