Salvia coccineaThis is called an annual salvia, but it will also often survive through winter as it is really a frost-sensitive perennial. In any case, it also self-seeds so you will never be without it! It has dainty flowers of red, coral-pink, peachy-pink or white and forms a pretty, hazy effect, from late spring to winter. It is a good filler plant and will grow in sun or part shade. It is sometimes colloquially called Texas sage.
White form of Salvia coccineaIt is a rather brittle plant which grows to about 50 to 80cm tall , but I have seen taller variants that grow up to 1.5 m in height and have quite a presence, mingling effectively with Dahlia, Pentas and other long-flowering plants. Regular deadheading will prolong the floral display. If it survives winter, prune it hard at the end of that season and, hopefully, it will regrow.
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