Common Name:

scarlet savory, scarlet calamint, red basil

Synonym(s):

Clinopodium coccineum

Genus species:

Calamintha coccinea

Family:

Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

Form:

shrub

Size:

3-4 ft tall by 2-3 ft wide 

Life Span:

short-lived perennial

Flower Color:

red

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

semi-deciduous; blooms spring-late fall

Noted For:

Recommended Uses:

Retain it in the landscape if is is occurring naturally.

Considerations:

Difficult to establish and requires highly specific site conditions.

Availability:

Propagation:

Seed or cuttings. Little cultural information is available. Soil conditions must be appropriate -- try to grow it in yellow sand with excellent drainage.

Light:

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

somewhat acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A, 8B, 9A, 9B

Wildlife:

Attracts hummingbirds.

Attracts bees, and butterflies.

Native Habitats:

Scrub, in open areas. Sandhills, coastal hammocks. Mostly near the coast.

Natural Range in Florida:

Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Short lived. Rarely grown as it is difficult to establish.