Vermilion Bluffs® Mexican sage: red hot for hummers!
Shalene Hiller, Horticulturist with the City of Westminster (pictured here), invited the Marketing Committee to meet at the City of Westminster’s Heritage at Westmoor Golf Course on August 5 and they were thrilled to see how beautifully these plants are still performing!
The species Mexican sage (Salvia darcyi) was collected by John Fairey and Carl Schoenfeld in the Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico in 1991, and introduced into commerce at Yucca Do Nursery in Hempstead, Texas. It’s normally listed as hardy to USDA Hardiness zones 7-10, but several plants at the Heritage proved to be winter hardy near Denver. Because of their unique cold hardiness, this selection, VERMILION BLUFFS® was introduced through Plant Select® in 2007.
VERMILION BLUFFS® grows to be a large perennial, easily 4′ tall and 3′ wide, and virtually blooms all summer. The crimson red color is striking and nearly guarantees that hummingbirds will find your garden if they’re anywhere in the neighborhood! This selection has proven to be cold hardy to USDA hardiness zones 5-9, a fantastic new choice for gardeners in colder areas.
The Heritage at Westmoor is an official Plant Select® demonstration garden partner, and the gardens around the clubhouse are open to the public. While you’re there, be sure to have a meal or beverage at the Grill – the food is great, and the views are fantastic.
View the plant profile here.
Vermilion Bluffs® mexican sage (Salvia darcyi ‘Pscarl’)
Perennial
Height: 36-40” inches
Width: 28-32” inches
Blooms: August to October
Sun: Full sun or part shade
Soil Moisture: Moderate to xeric (Little to no irrigation needed once established.)
Hardiness: USDA zones 5b-10
Culture: Loam soil is best.
Learn more about Heritage at Westmoor Golf Course.
10555 Westmoor Drive
Westminster, CO 80021
Golf Shop: 303-469-2974
Can I get just this plant rather than a mix of plants
Yes of course. However, if you’d like more pollinators to visit, get a mix of plants.
I planted a number of these last year in Santa Rosa California. We had a very wet winter and many of my vermillion bluff sage did not survive. Could it have been due to the wet winter? I also wonder if maybe I cut them back too severely. Any thoughts? Thank you.
Zone-wise these plants should do well there. These plants do not like wet winters in flat gardens, they grow better on slight slopes. Hand trim them back cutting off the dead in spring. If your going to cut back in fall to tidy up, cut down to about 8″ from ground.
I just planted this plant in Santa Fe NM. Should I much the plant with compost?
If you planted it with compost it will be ok. However, it most likely did not need it.
I planted these for the first year in Arvada, CO and this is the first year I have had a steady stream of hummingbirds! I love, love, love it!
Is there anything I can do to help winterize it?
It is facing south and gets sun nearly the entire day.
Yes, it is such a great plant! Trim back after it has gone dormant to about 10-14″.
This is the second season for my Vermilion and all the above branches are dead, does it come up from the roots each year?
Yes, it does. It loves heat and is slow to emerge. Give it some time.
Should I fertilize Mexican Sage?
During the summer when it’s actively growing and about to flower.
CAN VERMILLION BLUFFS MEXICAN SAGE SEEDS BE PLANTED INDOORS FOR OUTDOOR PLANTING IN THE SPRING? AND WHERE CAN THESE SEEDS BE PURCHASED?
Yes..I see this is months old ..but I planted seeds indoors and have 6 containers of them. they were VERY successful and the seeds were 3 years old
Where can I purchase them?
This is such a great plant! At the bottom, on the right side of this page there is a link to online vendors for this plant. LINK HERELINK HERE Our list of Plant Select Retail members should also be able to get you this plant. That list is herelist is here.
Does Vermillion Cliffs sucker ?
Does it take over and get out of control as Russisn Sage does?
It will seed around if you live in CA or similar climate but does not sucker or get out of control like Russian Sage. Enjoy!
Is Vermilion Bluffs patented or trademarked?
Yes, Vermilion Bluffs is trademarked. Great plant! Email me directly if you’d like to grow it. director@plantselect.org
Should Vermilion Bells be pruned to the ground in late winter or early Spring?
Trim back to about 3-5 inches above the ground and that will protect root crowns from late freezes. Enjoy!
Hello. Could I plant this in a container?
Yes, and it will look great in full sun! It probably won’t live through the winter unless you store it in a protected area like an unheated garage.