Salvia (Scarlet Sage) in Zone 8a & 8b
Salvia splendens
Yes, salvia (scarlet sage) grows in zones 8a and 8b. Start seeds indoors Jan 28–Feb 4 and plant out Apr 8–Apr 15.
When to plant salvia (scarlet sage) in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b 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 | Jan 28–Feb 4 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 8–Apr 15 |
| Estimated bloom | Jun 27–Jul 4 (~80 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 8b
These go outside within two weeks of salvia (scarlet sage) in zone 8b, so one planting day can cover them.
- NasturtiumApr 1–Apr 8
- MarigoldApr 1–Apr 8
- Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon)Apr 8–Apr 15
- Bee BalmApr 8–Apr 15
- Black-Eyed Susan VineApr 8–Apr 15
- Chrysanthemum (Garden Mum)Apr 8–Apr 15
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 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Salvia (scarlet sage) needs about 80 days from transplant to first bloom.
Salvia (Scarlet Sage) planting windows in every zone
Zone 8b 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 (your zone) | 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 8b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Salvia (Scarlet Sage) in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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