It was the medicinal properties of some salvia species that gave the family its name. The common name, sage, comes from the same word roots. It was used medicinally to cure problems of the heart, stomach, liver and blood and was used to help cure epilepsy. On the other hand, women were warned that eating sage cooked in wine would mean they would never have children. Scarlet sage, in particular, is a culinary plant and member of the mint family.
Hummingbirds love the big red flowers.
With bright green foliage and growing from 1 to 3 feet tall, it's also available now with pink, purple or white blossoms on either tall or dwarf strains. Pest of the Month Beginning gardeners who find camellia blossoms marred with brown spots think the rain is responsible. It's not rain at all, but Camellia petal blight. In any case, pick and discard blighted blossoms in the trash, not the compost pile. For the Beginner Iris are rhizomes.