Salvia (Scarlet Sage) in Zone 4a & 4b
Salvia splendens
Yes, salvia (scarlet sage) grows in zones 4a and 4b. Start seeds indoors Mar 20–Mar 27 and plant out May 29–Jun 5.
When to plant salvia (scarlet sage) in zone 4b
Zones 4a and 4b 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.
| Start indoors | Mar 20–Mar 27 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 29–Jun 5 |
| Estimated bloom | Aug 17–Aug 24 (~80 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 4b
These go outside within two weeks of salvia (scarlet sage) in zone 4b, so one planting day can cover them.
- NasturtiumMay 22–May 29
- MarigoldMay 22–May 29
- Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon)May 29–Jun 5
- Bee BalmMay 29–Jun 5
- Black-Eyed Susan VineMay 29–Jun 5
- Cleome (Spider Flower)May 29–Jun 5
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 4's season
Zone 4b's frost-free window runs about 128 days, from May 15 to September 20. Salvia (scarlet sage) needs about 80 days from transplant to first bloom.
Salvia (Scarlet Sage) planting windows in every zone
Zone 4b 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 (your zone) | 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 | 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)
← Back to the full zone 4b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Salvia (Scarlet Sage) in USDA zone 4b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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