Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Autumn Sage Furman's Red
Furman's Red is a named variety of autumn sage from Texas with bright magenta-red flowers held in dark cups. It blooms from spring into fall and is one of the most cold hardy autumn sages. Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees visit the flowers, and the plant stays about 2 to 3 feet tall. In the Valley it does best with some afternoon shade and low to moderate water.
Best for: hummingbird and pollinator beds, gardens from the low desert up to the high desert, and borders with morning sun and afternoon shade.
The magenta-red tube flowers draw hummingbirds, and butterflies and bees visit too. Plant several about 2 to 3 feet apart for a long season of color.
It is rated to about -10°F, far colder than a Valley winter. In very cold areas it can freeze to the ground and regrow from the roots in spring.
In the Valley, an east-facing border or light shade from a desert tree keeps it healthy through summer. At higher elevations it takes full sun.
Reflected heat and full summer sun in the low desert stress it. Deep shade means fewer flowers. The stems turn woody and sprawling without a yearly cutback.
- Massed bed2 ft apart
- Border or row3 ft apart
Water every 3 to 4 days for the first two weeks, then every 6 to 7 days. By weeks 7 and 8, water about every 10 to 14 days. After that, keep stretching the time between waterings.
Once rooted it needs low to moderate water. It blooms and looks better with regular water in summer. Water less often in winter.
In the Valley, morning sun with afternoon shade, or filtered shade, suits it best. Avoid reflected heat and all-day sun, since heat stress sets in once highs reach about 110°F. Deep shade cuts the bloom.
In late winter or early spring, cut it back by about half, or hard to 4 to 6 inches to renew it. A trim in mid-summer sets up a strong fall bloom. Snip off spent flower spikes for more flowers.
Foamy spots on the stems are spittlebugs, and they are harmless. Trim off the affected stems if they bother you.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
What color is Furman's Red autumn sage?
The flowers are bright red with a magenta tone, held in dark cups on the stems. Plant several together for a strong band of color.
Is Furman's Red the same as regular red autumn sage?
It is a named variety of the same species, from Texas. It is known for its magenta-red color and for being one of the most cold hardy autumn sages. We also carry a plain red autumn sage.
How big does Furman's Red get?
It grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and 1.5 to 3 feet wide. Plant it about 2 to 3 feet apart so the mounds just touch.
How cold hardy is Furman's Red?
It is rated to about -10°F. In very cold places it can freeze to the ground and regrow from the roots and bloom the same year. A Valley winter is no problem.
When does Furman's Red bloom?
It blooms from spring into fall. In the low desert it flowers heaviest in spring and fall and slows in the summer heat, so trim off faded spikes to keep new ones coming.
Does Furman's Red need shade in Phoenix?
Yes, some shade helps in the low desert. Plant it where it gets morning sun and shade from the summer afternoon sun, such as an east-facing bed.
How far apart do I plant Furman's Red?
Plant it about 2 to 3 feet apart in a bed or border. Use 2 feet for a massed bed that fills in quickly.
How much water does Furman's Red need?
It needs low to moderate water once rooted. Water more often for the first couple of months, then less in winter, and give a bit of extra water in dry spells for more flowers.
How do I prune Furman's Red?
Cut it back in late winter or early spring. Trim off faded flower spikes during the season to keep it blooming.
Does Furman's Red attract hummingbirds?
Yes. Hummingbirds visit the red flowers, and butterflies and bees come too. Keep trimming faded spikes so the flowers keep coming.
Do deer and rabbits eat Furman's Red?
They tend to leave it alone, since the leaves have an aromatic, sage-like scent. You usually do not need to fence it.
Autumn Sage Furman's Red for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Furman's Red is a named Texas variety of autumn sage, known for bright magenta-red flowers and extra cold hardiness. It blooms from spring into fall and draws hummingbirds. Below is how it grows in a Valley yard: size, spacing, shade, water, pruning and cold.
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What is Furman's Red autumn sage?
Furman's Red is a named variety of autumn sage from Texas. It has bright magenta-red flowers held in dark cups. It is one of the most cold hardy autumn sages.
Furman's Red in Phoenix
In the low desert it wants some shade from the afternoon sun in summer, and soil that drains. It blooms heaviest in spring and fall, with less in the summer heat.
How cold hardy is Furman's Red salvia?
It is rated to about -10°F. In very cold areas it can freeze to the ground and regrow from the roots in spring. In the Valley, cold is not a concern.
How far apart to plant Furman's Red
Space plants about 2 to 3 feet apart. Each one grows about 2 to 3 feet tall and up to 3 feet wide.
Pruning Furman's Red autumn sage
Cut it back in late winter or early spring, and remove faded flower spikes through the season. Without a cutback it turns woody and sprawling.
Furman's Red vs red autumn sage
Both are autumn sage with red flowers. Furman's Red is a named variety with a magenta tone to the red and extra cold hardiness. Both grow about 2 to 3 feet tall.
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