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Saucy Red
Saucy series
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Saucy series
- Height × spread: about 24 in by about 14 in (61 cm by about 36 cm)
- Bloom window: summer to frost (varies by climate)
- Color & flower form: scarlet red tubular flowers on upright spikes
- Fragrance: 0
- USDA hardiness: tender perennial in zones 10 to 11, grown as annual in most of North America
- Breeder / Year / Origin: unknown
- Cut-flower notes: not typically used as a cut flower
- Pet safety: unknown
How it differs
- Grows taller than many modern compact bedding salvias.
- Reads more like a mid border plant than an edging plant.
- Can need spacing to avoid crowding and humidity around the base.
Strengths
- Height adds structure in mixed beds.
- Strong red color for high contrast plantings.
- Useful for large public plantings and wide borders.
Care in one minute
Site: full sun bed with airflow.
Light: full sun for strongest stems and best bloom.
Soil and drainage: moist, well drained soil, avoid standing water.
Water: deep water during dry spells, do not keep constantly soggy.
Feeding: moderate feeding, avoid heavy nitrogen that softens stems.
Grooming: remove spent spikes to keep new growth and new bloom coming.
Watch‑outs
- Can lean if planted in shade or rich, soft growth conditions.
- Dense planting can raise disease risk during humid weather.
Best uses (tags)
Provenance note
‘Saucy Red’ appears in bedding plant and annual flower listings as a taller scarlet sage option used for larger landscape presence.
References
- UF IFAS Environmental Horticulture, Salvia splendens (general culture and cultivar size range)
