Salvia gesneriflora
Salvia gesneriflora is a herbaceous perennial plant or subshrub native to mountainous provinces of the Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico, growing at elevation. The long tubular flowers of this salvia resemble Gesneria flowers. It is a popular ornamental plant.
Description
In its native habitat, Salvia gesneriflora is reported to grow up to high, though in cultivation it only reaches high and wide due to wind breakage or pruning. Hard annual pruning prevents the plant from breakage. The plant has many woody stems and very heavy with foliage that break easily in wind and rain. The heart-shaped leaves are mid-green, very aromatic, and graduated in size.The large flowers grow up to long, and are a vivid orange-red, held in a yellow-green calyx tinged with purple glands. They grow abundantly in tightly spaced whorls on long inflorescences. It blooms in late winter and early spring, with hard annual pruning recommended after blooming. The plant will grow back to in one season.