# Tropical sage (*Salvia coccinea*) Tropical sage is a bright and colorful flower that loves warm places. It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, making gardens look lively and fun! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Tropical sage](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Texas_sage_%281571020768%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Carl E Lewis, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Texas_sage_%281571020768%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Tropical sage has slender stems adorned with vibrant, tubular red flowers, though sometimes pink or white varieties exist. Its distinctive flower spikes stand tall, making it an eye-catching plant in any setting. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Lamiaceae - **Genus:** Salvia ## Interesting facts - It can grow super fast, sometimes blooming just weeks after sprouting from seed! - Its tiny seeds can scatter far and wide, starting new plants in unexpected places! - Some people call it Scarlet Sage because of its fiery, brilliant red color! - The name 'Salvia' comes from Latin, meaning 'to heal,' hinting at its ancient uses! ## Special abilities - **Hummingbird Beacon:** Tropical sage has bright, tubular flowers that perfectly fit hummingbirds' beaks for easy nectar access. - **Drought Defender:** Tropical sage can withstand dry spells, keeping its vibrant blooms alive even when water is scarce. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-120 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Bird ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-throated-hummingbird) (*Archilochus colubris*) — sips nectar while moving pollen. - **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — visits flowers for sweet nectar. - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects pollen and nectar. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — may browse on its leaves and stems. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before touching or picking flowers. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Tropical sage? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Tropical sage? 60-120 cm ### How wide does Tropical sage spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Tropical sage? 2-3 cm ### When does Tropical sage bloom? Summer to fall ### Is Tropical sage edible? No ### Is Tropical sage toxic? None ### What is Tropical sage's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Longue Vue House and Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/longue-vue-house-and-gardens) — Louisiana, US · Botanical Garden - [Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mercer-arboretum-and-botanic-gardens) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Paseo Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/paseo-park) — Texas, US · Park - [Rock Springs Run State Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rock-springs-run-state-reserve) — Florida, US · State Park - [San Antonio Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-antonio-botanical-garden) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Doctor I. Sylvester Hankins Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/doctor-i-sylvester-hankins-park) — Florida, US · Park [View all places to see Tropical sage](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/tropical-sage) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Tropical sage: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tropical-sage)