# Salvia (Salvia splendens)

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/plants/salvia · Updated: 2026-10-29
Source: Plant Guide (https://plantguide.ae/plants/salvia)

Salvia · مريمية قرمزية  
flower · exotic · family Lamiaceae · grows 0.3–0.6 m tall, 0.2–0.4 m wide · moderate growth  
sun to part shade · moderate water need  
Ratings for Dubai (1–5, 5 is best): heat 3 · salt 2 · drought 2 · shade 3 · ease of care 4  
Sow or plant: Oct–Feb  
Uses: bedding, container  
Garden styles: manicured, luxury

## Also known as

- **English:** Scarlet sage, Bonfire flower, Firecrackers, Globe of fire
- **Arabic (العربية):** مريمية قرمزية, سالفيا (salvia)
- **Persian (فارسی):** مریم‌گلی آتشین (maryam-goli atashin), سالوی قرمز (salvi-ye ghermez)

The red spike of Dubai's winter beds: Salvia splendens is on Dubai Municipality's seasonal flower list. Plant from October to February in sun, feed it, and clear it when the heat arrives in April or May.

## About

Meet salvia, the flower that sets a bed on fire. Dense spikes of scarlet tubular flowers rise above dark green leaves, and the colour is doubled because the calyx behind each flower is as bright as the petals (NC State). Wikipedia notes that smaller cultivars are bedding plants seen in shopping malls and public gardens all over the world, and Dubai is no exception.

Dubai Municipality names salvia in its seasonal flower lists, and so does a 2004 Gulf News guide to the flowers of the season. In the UAE the plain name 'salvia' means this red bedding plant, which is why this page uses it, with scarlet sage as the English name.

Salvia is a warm-weather plant by nature, so it is one of the more forgiving of Dubai's bedding flowers in the shoulder months. It still asks for the cool season, and the guides agree that it fades as the heat arrives in April or May.

Salvia splendens is a tender perennial from Brazil that is grown as an annual (NC State, RHS). The flowers are borne in dense spikes, typically scarlet but also pink, purple, lavender and white, over oval leaves; plants are 30–60 cm tall and 20–40 cm wide, with compact bedding selections at the shorter end. UF/IFAS adds that salvias attract butterflies and hummingbirds and have no serious pests, though NC State cautions that many bedding cultivars have no nectar and are not a useful food for pollinators.

In Dubai it belongs to the cool-season rotation. Dubai Municipality's lists (Emirates 24|7, 2016; Al Bayan, 2020) name salvia among its seasonal flowers, Abu Dhabi City Municipality lists it among its winter flowers (Al Ittihad, 2020), a Dubai home-garden guide lists it among the annuals that do well from late October through winter in beds with at least half a day of sun, and Gulf News in 2006 included scarlet sage among annuals that can endure shade and semi-shade and hot, dry conditions. UF/IFAS says annual salvias are warm-season performers and NC State says it needs warmth, so it is less strictly a cool-season plant than petunia or pansy. The same guide says to expect it to fade as the heat arrives in April or May.

Care is about water and sun. NC State says it prefers full sun to part shade and well-drained soil and is not drought tolerant; RHS wants fertile, moist, well-drained soil and advises pinching out young growth to encourage a bushy plant. UF/IFAS warns that lighter-coloured annual salvias can be burned by high midday sun and do better with some protection, while darker colours resist sunburn better. Dubai's sandy soil drains well but holds few nutrients, so mix in compost and feed regularly.

## Through the year

Salvia's Dubai season runs from late October to April. A Dubai home-garden guide recommends planting from late October through winter in beds with at least half a day of sun, and Dubai Municipality's January to February rotation tops up beds. With October's highs near 36 °C, plant in the evening and water well. Plants are in flower by November and carry through the coolest months, when mean highs are 24–29 °C. Pinching young growth keeps them bushy. As April's mean maximum reaches 33.7 °C and May's 38.2 °C, the display fades and beds are cleared for summer bedding such as [Vinca](https://plantguide.ae/plants/vinca.md) and [Portulaca](https://plantguide.ae/plants/portulaca.md).

| When | What | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Oct–Feb | Plant: Cool-season planting window | A Dubai home-garden guide recommends late October through winter; Dubai Municipality's lists name salvia without a rotation, so the September–October and January–February windows both apply. Shade new plants if October is hot. |
| Nov–Dec | Prune: Pinch young plants | RHS advises pinching out young growth to encourage a bushy plant. |
| Nov–Apr | Flowers: Flowers through the cool season | UF/IFAS and NC State describe it as a warm-season performer, so it flowers well into the warming months before fading. |
| May–Jun | Heat stress: Fades as the heat arrives | A Dubai home-garden guide expects these annuals to fade in April or May; UF/IFAS says pale selections can burn in strong midday sun. |

## Care in Dubai

- **Watering in summer:** Not grown outdoors through summer; it is a cool-season bedding plant in Dubai.
- **Watering in winter:** Water every two to three days in beds (Acacia's January guidance) and more often in pots. NC State says it is not drought tolerant.
- **While establishing:** Keep evenly moist for the first two weeks, with light shade if planted in a hot spell.
- **Soil:** Fertile, moist but well-drained soil (RHS, NC State). In Dubai's sand, mix in compost for nutrients and water-holding.
- **Feeding:** A balanced liquid feed every two to three weeks, because sand holds few nutrients.
- **Pruning:** Pinch out young growth to encourage bushiness (RHS) and remove spent flower spikes to keep new ones coming.
- **Planting:** Plant nursery seedlings from late October, about 20–25 cm apart (NC State gives a spread of 8–10 in), in a bed with at least half a day of sun. Choose darker-coloured selections for hot, exposed beds (UF/IFAS).
- **Pests and problems:** Aphids; Whitefly; Spider mites; Powdery mildew
- **Toxicity:** There is no ASPCA entry for Salvia splendens, and NC State's Plant Toolbox page for it carries no toxicity information, so treat it as unassessed. The ASPCA lists a different plant, Salvia coccinea (also called scarlet sage), and common sage, Salvia officinalis, as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, but that cannot be assumed for S. splendens. Do not let pets or children eat it.

## Good and bad

**Pros**
- Dense scarlet spikes: the brightest colour in a winter bed
- On Dubai Municipality's seasonal flower list, so seedlings are easy to find
- A warm-season plant, so more forgiving of Dubai's warm shoulder months
- Takes full sun to part shade (NC State), and shade in Gulf News's list
- Relatively pest-free in the landscape (NC State, UF/IFAS)

**Cons**
- Fades in April or May as the heat arrives
- Not drought tolerant: it needs regular water (NC State)
- Lighter-coloured selections can sunburn in high midday sun (UF/IFAS)
- Many bedding cultivars give pollinators no nectar (NC State)

## Common mistakes

- Letting it dry out. NC State says it is not drought tolerant and needs warmth, so keep the bed evenly moist.
- Choosing a pale selection for an exposed, sunny bed. UF/IFAS says lighter-coloured annual salvias can be burned by high midday sun.
- Expecting it to last through summer. A Dubai home-garden guide says these annuals fade in April or May.
- Planting it in dense shade. The guide asks for at least half a day of sun, and NC State prefers full sun to part shade.
- Counting on it for pollinators. NC State says many bedding cultivars have no nectar.

## Good to know

- 'Scarlet sage' is also used for a different plant, Salvia coccinea, which UF/IFAS and the ASPCA both call scarlet sage. Check the Latin name on the label.
- Rosemary is botanically Salvia rosmarinus and Plantsworld sells it under that name. 'Texas sage' is used both for Leucophyllum frutescens, which has its own page and is not a salvia, and, by the ASPCA, for Salvia coccinea.
- UAE shops list salvia mostly as seed: Greensouq sells 'Semilla Frito Enana Roja' dwarf red salvia seed and Plantsworld sells Fito salvia seed.
- RHS lists the common names bonfire flower, firecrackers and globe of fire.

## Using it in a garden

Roles: Winter bedding accent, Container, Mass planting, Cut flower

Salvia works best in a block of one colour, where its red spikes make a hot, saturated patch that can be seen across a garden. Plant it in beds with at least half a day of sun in free-draining, compost-enriched soil, and keep it within reach of a drip line because NC State says it is not drought tolerant. In a hot position, choose red or purple selections over pale ones, which UF/IFAS says can scorch in high midday sun. Compact types such as the 30 cm bedding selections suit pots and edging.

- [Petunia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/petunia.md): Petunia's low trumpet flowers fill the front of the bed under salvia's upright red spikes, and both are on Dubai Municipality's list.
- [Sweet alyssum](https://plantguide.ae/plants/sweet-alyssum.md): A white alyssum carpet at the foot of red salvia is a classic bedding combination, and both are on the municipal list.
- [Snapdragon](https://plantguide.ae/plants/snapdragon.md): A second upright flower with the same cool-season calendar, giving a taller backdrop of mixed spikes.

## FAQ

**When should I plant salvia in Dubai?**  
From late October through winter, in beds with at least half a day of sun, according to a Dubai home-garden guide. Dubai Municipality plants salvia in its seasonal rotations, which are September to October and January to February.

**Why did my salvia stop flowering in April or May?**  
That is expected. A Dubai home-garden guide says these annuals fade as the heat arrives in April or May, and Dubai's mean maximum rises to 33.7 °C in April and 38.2 °C in May.

**Is Salvia splendens the same as the salvia that is sold as scarlet sage?**  
Often, but not always. UF/IFAS and the ASPCA use 'scarlet sage' for Salvia coccinea. The red bedding salvia in Dubai's beds is Salvia splendens, so check the Latin name.

**Does salvia need full sun?**  
It prefers full sun to part shade (NC State), and a Dubai guide asks for at least half a day of sun. Pale-coloured selections can burn in strong midday sun (UF/IFAS).

**Is salvia safe for pets?**  
There is no ASPCA entry for Salvia splendens, so it is unassessed. Keep pets from eating it. The ASPCA's non-toxic listings are for other salvias.

## Related plants

[Petunia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/petunia.md) · [Snapdragon](https://plantguide.ae/plants/snapdragon.md) · [Sweet alyssum](https://plantguide.ae/plants/sweet-alyssum.md) · [Texas Sage](https://plantguide.ae/plants/texas-sage.md)

## Photos

![Scarlet sage (Salvia splendens) with dense red flower spikes in a planted bed, with yellow flowers behind](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/Scarlet_Sage_%28Salvia_Splendens%29_in_Athens_on_April_30%2C_2023.jpg)  
Photo: George E. Koronaios / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scarlet_Sage_(Salvia_Splendens)_in_Athens_on_April_30,_2023.jpg))

![A sloping bed of red scarlet sage (Salvia splendens) flowering in Split, Croatia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Salvia_splendens_in_Split%2C_Croatia_20230530_02.jpg)  
Photo: Argo Navis / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salvia_splendens_in_Split,_Croatia_20230530_02.jpg))

![A dense bed of scarlet sage (Salvia splendens) in full red flower](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Scarlet_sage_2.jpg)  
Photo: পাপৰি বৰা / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scarlet_sage_2.jpg))

![Salvia splendens 'Peach', a pale pink-flowered cultivar, in a botanical garden border](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Salvia_splendens_%E2%80%98Peach%E2%80%99_%28at_Mito_Botanical_Garden%2C_Ibaraki%2C_Japan%29.jpg)  
Photo: 小石川人晃 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salvia_splendens_%E2%80%98Peach%E2%80%99_(at_Mito_Botanical_Garden,_Ibaraki,_Japan).jpg))

## Sources

- [RHS: Salvia splendens](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/101887/salvia-splendens/details)
- [NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Salvia splendens](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/salvia-splendens/)
- [UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Salvias](https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/salvia/)
- [ASPCA: Scarlet Sage (Salvia coccinea)](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/scarlet-sage)
- [ASPCA: Sage (Salvia officinalis)](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/sage)
- [Emirates 24|7: Flowers Dubai plants in a year (Dubai Municipality's seasonal flower list, 2016)](https://www.emirates247.com/lifestyle/flowers-dubai-plants-in-a-year-2016-05-13-1.629918)
- [Al Bayan: Dubai Municipality's flower varieties and its three planting rotations (Arabic, 18 March 2020)](https://www.albayan.ae/across-the-uae/news-and-reports/2020-03-18-1.3806546)
- [Gulf News: Dubai set to bloom with over 37m flowers (September–October and January–February rotations)](https://gulfnews.com/uae/environment/dubai-set-to-bloom-with-over-37m-flowers-1.1620206)
- [Al Ittihad: 3.6 million flowers decorate Abu Dhabi Island (Abu Dhabi City Municipality's winter flowers incl. salvia, Arabic, 2020)](https://www.aletihad.ae/articleamp/146/2020/3.6-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B2%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AC%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%B8%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A9)
- [Home Ease Repairs: Seasonal Garden Care Guide, Dubai Edition](https://homeaserepairs.com/seasonal-garden-care-guide-dubai-edition/)
- [Gulf News: Where to plant what (scarlet sage for shade and for hot, dry conditions, 2006)](https://gulfnews.com/amp/story/lifestyle%2Fhome%2Fwhere-to-plant-what-1.266904)
- [Gulf News: The flowers of the season (salvia among Dubai's winter flowers, 2004)](https://gulfnews.com/uae/the-flowers-of-the-season-1.315624)
- [Wikipedia: Climate of Dubai (1991–2020 normals, Dubai International Airport)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Dubai)
- [Kew WCVP, the checklist behind POWO (read via GBIF): Salvia splendens Sellow ex Nees](https://www.gbif.org/species/207218911)
- [Wikipedia: Salvia splendens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_splendens)
- [Plantsworld: Fito - Seed Salvia (2 g) (UAE shop listing, checked 29 October 2026)](https://plantsworld.ae/products/seed-salvia-flower-seeds-plants-online-in-dubai-uae)
- [Greensouq: Semilla Frito Enana Roja Salvia Seeds (UAE shop listing, checked 29 October 2026)](https://greensouq.ae/products/semilla-frito-enana-roja-salvia-seeds-2-g)
- [Arabic Wikipedia: مريمية قرمزية](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%A9)
- [Persian Wikipedia: مریم‌گلی آتشین](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%85%E2%80%8C%DA%AF%D9%84%DB%8C_%D8%A2%D8%AA%D8%B4%DB%8C%D9%86)