Salvia (Scarlet Sage) in Zone 10a & 10b

Salvia splendens

Yes, salvia (scarlet sage) grows in zones 10a and 10b. Start seeds indoors in Jan–Mar and plant out in Mar–May. For a fall crop, start seeds indoors in Jul–Aug and plant out in Sep–Oct.

When to plant salvia (scarlet sage) in zone 10b

Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.

Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. It needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.

Window	Spring window
Start indoors	Jan–Mar
Direct sow / transplant outside	Mar–May
Estimated bloom	~80 days after transplanting

Window	Fall window
Start indoors	Jul–Aug
Direct sow / transplant outside	Sep–Oct
Estimated bloom	~80 days after transplanting

Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.

Zone 10b dates sourced from growinginthegarden.com.

Fall window: the last sowing date is the average first frost minus days to maturity, the method in Purdue Extension's fall garden guide, which lists salvia (scarlet sage) for late-summer planting.

Full salvia (scarlet sage) profile · Companion planting guide · Zone 10b planting calendar

Plant alongside it in zone 10b

These go outside within two weeks of salvia (scarlet sage) in zone 10b, so one planting day can cover them.

Salvia (scarlet sage) is a long-season bloomer that doesn't quit. Once established it flowers steadily from late spring until frost, which makes it one of the more reliable season-long pollinator draws in the garden. The flowers themselves are narrow, upright spikes of tubular blooms, usually red, packed onto 1.5- to 3-foot plants.

How salvia (scarlet sage) fits zone 10's season

Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. Salvia (scarlet sage) needs about 80 days from transplant to first bloom.

Salvia (Scarlet Sage) planting windows in every zone

Zone 10b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.

Zone	Start indoors	Sow or plant out	Bloom
2a & 2b	Mar 25–Apr 1	Jun 3–Jun 10	Aug 22–Aug 29
3a & 3b	Apr 4–Apr 11	Jun 13–Jun 20	Sep 1–Sep 8
4a & 4b	Mar 20–Mar 27	May 29–Jun 5	Aug 17–Aug 24
5a & 5b	Mar 15–Mar 22	May 24–May 31	Aug 12–Aug 19
6a & 6b	Feb 28–Mar 7	May 9–May 16	Jul 28–Aug 4
7a & 7b	Feb 13–Feb 20	Apr 24–May 1	Jul 13–Jul 20
8a & 8b	Jan 28–Feb 4	Apr 8–Apr 15	Jun 27–Jul 4
9a & 9b	Dec 21–Dec 28	Mar 1–Mar 8	May 20–May 27
10a & 10bSpring window (your zone)	Jan–Mar	Mar–May	~80 days after transplanting
Fall window	Jul–Aug	Sep–Oct	~80 days after transplanting
11a & 11b	Nov 6–Nov 13	Jan 15–Jan 22	Apr 5–Apr 12

Bloom dates are about 80 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.

Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.

Good companions

No well-established companions for salvia (scarlet sage).

Where to buy salvia seeds

Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market (each supplier's salvia seeds)

See why we recommend these suppliers →

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See it growing

Search YouTube for "growing salvia (scarlet sage)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)

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Growing Salvia (Scarlet Sage) in USDA zone 10b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.

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