Salvia splendens aka Bonfire Salvia

Salvia splendens, also known as scarlet sage or tropical sage, is a tender herbaceous perennial plant native to Brazil. It thrives in warm, humid environments at elevations ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 meters. In its natural habitat, the wild form of Salvia splendens can reach a height of 1.3 meters, although smaller cultivars are more commonly seen in shopping malls and public gardens worldwide. This upright and compact plant is often grown as an annual and used as a bedding plant. It features dark-green foliage and produces striking plumes of purple-magenta flowers during the summer and autumn. While the scarlet variety is the most well-known, Salvia splendens also comes in other colors such as white, salmon, pink, purple, lavender, burgundy, and orange. The plant typically grows to a height of 18 to 30 inches and its showy flowers bloom on spikes. The 3-inch heart-shaped leaves emit a scent that repels mammalian pests, making them resistant to deer and rabbits. Although indigenous to Brazil, Salvia splendens is treated as an annual in temperate zones due to its vulnerability to hard frosts and cold winters.