Salvia madrensis 'Red Neck Girl'

Salvia madrensis, the forsythia sage, is a big, robust perennial from the mountains of Mexico, grown for a late-season show of soft yellow. Broad, quilted, triangular leaves clothe stout, square, mint-family stems, and in fall the plant lifts terminal clusters of clear yellow flowers that recall a forsythia in bloom and give the sage its common name, an unusual color and a welcome one so late in the year.

This selection, named 'Red Neck Girl' by our friend Tony Avent of Plant Delights Nursery, adds a striking twist: the upper parts of the large square stems flush a deep purple-red, a handsome contrast to the yellow flowers and green leaves. The plant came to Woodlanders through our local friend Linda Christine, a true master gardener, one of those quiet passings-along that keep good plants in circulation.

Forsythia sage is a substantial plant, reaching seven or eight feet in a season and spreading into a broad clump, so give it room at the back of a large border. Full sun and good, well-drained soil suit the sage best, and once established the plant divides easily to move or to share with friends. The late yellow flowers draw hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies at a lean time for nectar.

Site Salvia madrensis 'Red Neck Girl' at the back of a big sunny border, in a bold subtropical planting, or as a late-season specimen, where the height, the red stems, and the forsythia-yellow spikes can all be read together. Pair with warm-season grasses, other tall salvias, and the warm tones of autumn. In zones 7 and 8 the top dies back in winter and returns from the root in spring; cut the old growth down in late winter.