Scarlet Sage

Pests & beneficial insects

🐛 Prone to: Aphids

Aphids

Aphididae

Curled leaves, sticky honeydew and ants on patrol — usually with something already eating them.

, Whitefly

Whitefly

Aleyrodidae

A puff of white when you brush the leaf, and stickiness underneath.

.

Attract Hoverflies

Hoverflies

Syrphidae

The adults only drink nectar. It is the larvae that eat the aphids.

, Lacewings

Lacewings

Chrysopidae

Golden-eyed adults that mostly drink; larvae that hunt like small alligators.

, Ladybugs

Ladybugs

Coccinellidae

The one predator here where the adults hunt as hard as the larvae do.

, Parasitic wasps

Parasitic wasps

Braconidae, Ichneumonidae and relatives

Pinhead-sized, stingless, and lethal to aphids and caterpillars from the inside.

to keep them in check — plant Belgian EndiveGreat, CarrotGreat and Catalogna ChicoryGreat nearby.

🌼 Beneficial companion — draws Hoverflies

Hoverflies

Syrphidae

The adults only drink nectar. It is the larvae that eat the aphids.

, Parasitic wasps

Parasitic wasps

Braconidae, Ichneumonidae and relatives

Pinhead-sized, stingless, and lethal to aphids and caterpillars from the inside.

that help control Aphids

Aphids

Aphididae

Curled leaves, sticky honeydew and ants on patrol — usually with something already eating them.

,

on neighbouring plants.

Growing from seed

Start Scarlet Sage indoors about 8 weeks before your last frost, keeping seeds in warm soil (around 20–25 °C). Seeds usually come up in around 14 days. Move seedlings out once the danger of frost has passed, in full sun, spaced about 30 cm apart. Expect the first blooms in roughly 90 days.

Keep track of the seeds you own.

Companion Planting

• 
  Alfalfa
  

  AlfalfaExcellent pair

  • ❧Scarlet Sage attracts Hoverflies and Parasitic wasps, which prey on the Aphids and Caterpillars and more that attack Alfalfa
  • ❧Alfalfa fixes nitrogen in the soil that Scarlet Sage feeds on
  • ❧Scarlet Sage draws Bees and Bumblebees and more that improve pollination for both
• 
  Hairy Vetch
  

  Hairy VetchExcellent pair

  • ❧Hairy Vetch attracts Ladybugs and Parasitic wasps and more, which prey on the Aphids and Whitefly that attack Scarlet Sage
  • ❧Hairy Vetch fixes nitrogen in the soil that Scarlet Sage feeds on
  • ❧Scarlet Sage acts as living mulch, keeping soil moist and weeds down around Hairy Vetch
• 
  Sainfoin
  

  SainfoinExcellent pair

  • ❧Sainfoin attracts Ladybugs and Parasitic wasps and more, which prey on the Aphids and Whitefly that attack Scarlet Sage
  • ❧Sainfoin fixes nitrogen in the soil that Scarlet Sage feeds on
  • ❧Sainfoin roots deep while Scarlet Sage feeds near the surface — no competition

How to grow Scarlet Sage

1. Sow8 weeks before frost
2. Germinates14 days
3. Space30 cm apart
4. GrowFull sun
5. Harvest~90 days

Water: Medium · Height: 45 cm · Soil: Rich, moist, well-draining