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Native Plant Society of Texas

Big Red Sage

Salvia penstemonoides

Other common name(s):

Penstemon Sage

Family:

Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Edwards Plateau
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

3
to
6
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Semi Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Loam, Clay, Limestone, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Woodland, Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Red, Purple

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Hummingbirds

Maintenance

Once thought to be extinct, Big Red Sage was rediscovered in the 1980s and has become an established garden plant in Texas. Endemic to the Edwards Plateau, although not common in the wild, but easily grown from seed. Plants may repeat bloom from summer to fall, but need regular moisture to encourage this. Plant rosettes are evergreen to semi-evergreen in southern locations. Can be grown in container gardens. Propagation: seed, clump division.

Comments

Blooms June-October. Leaves form a rosette in the winter from which numerous flowering stalks grow in the summer. Its glossy lance-shaped leaves have a pleasant smell similar to lemon-lime. Tube-shaped, 2-lipped, dark rose to burgundy flowers bloom in spikes at the ends of the stiff stems. The fruit is a capsule.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Salvia pentstemonoides

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment In the spring, sow the seeds on the surface of a well-draining seed-starting mix, lightly pressing them into the soil without covering them too deeply to allow light to assist in germination. Place the pots in a warm, brightly lit location but out of direct sunlight and keep the soil consistently damp. Germination typically occurs within a few weeks. Collect seeds from the mature flowers after the flowers have wilted and the seed pods have dried. Allow the seeds to dry. https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Salvia_pentstemonoides.html
Seed Scarification Seeds can be sowed outdoors in the fall. Before planting, the seeds need to be scarified, particularly the hard coat needs to be broken to promote germination. Plants grown from seed usually bloom in their second or third year. No further details on scarification are available at this time. We will add more information as it becomes available. Seeds are collected from the dried inflorescence and stored in a cool and dry place. https://www.botanikks.com/plants/salvia-penstemonoides-kunth-bouch/504495/1
Cutting Cutting Cuttings taken from the mother plant in early summer are planted in moist soil and covered with plastic to maintain humidity. Roots will form in 2-4 weeks, after which the plastic cover can be removed. No further details on propagation by cuttings are available at this time. We will add more information as it becomes available. https://www.botanikks.com/plants/salvia-penstemonoides-kunth-bouch/504495/1
Clump Division The divided sections can be planted in separate pots or directly in the soil. As the plant grows, it forms a clump which can be carefully dug up, and the clump is divided into 2 or 3 sections each containing a portion of the root system. https://www.botanikks.com/plants/salvia-penstemonoides-kunth-bouch/504495/1

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason