Cardinal sage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cardinal sage |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Salvia
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| Species: |
fulgens
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| Synonyms | |
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Salvia cardinalis Kunth. |
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The Salvia fulgens is a beautiful flowering plant. It is also known as the Cardinal sage or Mexican scarlet sage. This plant grows naturally in the mountains of Mexico, especially near the state of Puebla. It likes to grow in high places, usually between 8,700 and 11,000 feet above sea level. You can often find it at the edges of forests, especially where oak and pine trees grow. These mountains often have fog and rain almost all year round.
What Does it Look Like?
The Salvia fulgens is a small subshrub. This means it's a plant that is partly woody, like a small bush. It usually grows about 50 to 100 centimeters (about 20 to 40 inches) tall. It can spread out about 40 to 90 centimeters (about 16 to 35 inches) wide.
Its flowers are a bright, striking red color. They are about 3 centimeters (just over an inch) long. These flowers grow in loose groups, which makes the plant look very colorful. The bright red color is why it's called "Cardinal sage" and sometimes S. cardinalis. The top part of each flower has tiny red hairs. These hairs can sparkle in the morning dew, which is where the name fulgens comes from, meaning "glistening."
Even after the flowers fall off, a reddish-brown part called a calyx stays on the plant for a long time. The flower clusters are usually about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long. Sometimes, they can even grow up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) long! The leaves of the plant are shaped like hearts. They are a pale yellow-green color, about 1.5 inches long and 1 inch wide. The plant is usually covered with many of these leaves.
History and Recognition
This plant was brought to gardens in Western countries in the 1800s. It has been grown in places like Britain for many years. The Salvia fulgens is a popular plant for gardens. It has even won a special award called the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. This award means it's a great plant for gardeners to grow.
