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Salvia confertiflora (Red Velvet Sage) - A strikingly attractive late blooming sage grows with an upright habit to 5 to 8 feet tall. It has large 7 inch long by 3 inch wide leaves that are dark green with a rough texture. The flower stalk, covered with reddish-brown velvety hairs, is typically up to 1 foot long but possibly longer, is crowded with small red-orange flowers whose buds and calyces are likewise covered with the reddish-brown hairs.
Plant in full coastal sun to light shade (especially inland) in a well-draining soil and regular weekly watering. It is damaged with a frost and suffers significant damage when temperatures drop into the low 20's degrees F. Heavy pruning is recommended in late winter as this salvia develops heavy stems with age and support may also be necessary to keep flowering stems upright. The interesting flowers are attractive to hummingbirds and work well in flower arrangements, both as a fresh cut flower or dried.
Salvia confertiflora comes from southeastern Brazil. The name Salvia comes from the name used by Pliny for a plant in the genus and comes from the Latin word 'salvere' meaning "to save" in reference to the long-believed healing properties of several Sage species and its specific name means "crowded flowers" for the way the flowers are congested on the inflorescence. Besides Red Velvet Sage, it is also commonly called Sabra Spike Sage. There are many Brazilian Palestinians and it is not clear if this common name in any way has anything to do with the Palestinian exodus to Brazil after the 1982 Sabra and Shatila Massacre in Beirut. We grew this interesting large sage from 1998 until 2015.
This information about Salvia confertiflora displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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