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Sizzler Scarlet
Sizzler series
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Sizzler series
- Height × spread: compact habit, size varies by climate (often used as a low bedding salvia)
- 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
- Often used as a compact bedding plant rather than a tall border salvia.
- Can show more stress during extreme heat compared with more heat tolerant lines.
- Needs steadier moisture during hot spells to keep spikes looking clean.
Strengths
- Fits small beds and edging lines.
- Strong red color for mass planting.
- Easy to rotate in seasonal displays.
Care in one minute
Site: sunny bed with airflow.
Light: full sun for strongest stems.
Soil and drainage: well drained soil, do not plant in heavy wet clay.
Water: water before plants wilt, especially in heat.
Feeding: light feeding, avoid forcing soft growth.
Grooming: remove old spikes to push new bloom cycles.
Watch‑outs
- Can lose quality faster in extreme heat if irrigation is inconsistent.
- Overwatering in poorly drained soil can cause decline.
Best uses (tags)
Provenance note
In university research comparing heat responses in Salvia splendens, Sizzler cultivars are discussed as a heat sensitive type relative to Vista cultivars.
References
- Louisiana State University Doctoral Dissertations, heat stress comparison of Vista and Sizzler Salvia splendens cultivars
- UF IFAS Environmental Horticulture, Salvia splendens (general culture and size variation by cultivar)
- NCSU Plant Toolbox, Salvia splendens overview and bloom season notes
