Featured Plant

This striking sage is native to Brazil. It was first discovered in 1833 by the Austrian naturalist, Johann Baptist Emanuel Pohl in the Serra dos Órgãos, state of Rio de Janeiro. Pohl sent specimens back to botanical gardens of Europe where it was popular not only for its dramatic color, but also for its prolific flowering well up to the time of frost. It has been used in horticulture in the United States since the 1960s, although it isn't commonly sold at nurseries because of its large size. 

With an upright habit, this is one of the larger species of Salvia, typically growing four to six, but even up to eight feet tall! It is also a fast grower and will reach near full height and width in one season. 

The inflorescence, of which there can be dozens on a single plant, is a narrow spire-like spike reaching two feet tall. The rather small orange-red flowers, many in each whorl, are held close to the reddish-brown stem, and this is reflected in the epithet, “confertiflora” which means “crowded with flowers.” The flowers themselves are densely clothed with velvety reddish-brown hairs covering the dark red calyx and crimson petals.