About Salvia gesneriiflora Lindl. & Paxton
In its native habitat, Salvia gesneriiflora is reported to reach a height of 25 ft (7.6 m). When grown in cultivation, however, it only reaches 5 ft (1.5 m) high and 3–4 ft (0.91–1.22 m) wide, due to wind breakage or pruning. This species develops many woody stems, and bears very dense foliage that breaks easily in wind and rain. Hard annual pruning helps prevent the plant from experiencing breakage. Its leaves are heart-shaped, mid-green, very aromatic, and graduated in size. The large flowers of Salvia gesneriiflora grow up to 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long, and are a vivid orange-red. The flowers are held in 1.5 in (3.8 cm) yellow-green calyxes tinged with purple glands. The flowers grow abundantly in tightly spaced whorls on 8–12 in (20–30 cm) long inflorescences. This plant blooms in late winter and early spring. It is recommended to do hard annual pruning, cutting the plant down to leaf nodes near the ground, after it finishes blooming. After pruning, the plant will grow back to 6 ft (1.8 m) in a single growing season.
