Autumn sage is queen of fall gardens because few drought-resistant species flower so late. Yet this beauty was named for the habit of blooming in spring with a long second season of color in fall.

Furman’s Red is more cold hardy than other varieties of autumn sage. Without much water, it grows well on slopes and thrives in hot sun. It’s very attractive to hummingbirds.

The salvia (sage) genus contains about 900 species worldwide. Growth habits range from shrubby or herbaceous perennial to annual and some species are grown primarily for their foliage characteristics.

The cherry sage or autumn sage, Salvia greggii, is native to Texas and blooms nonstop from late spring until frost. It, too, is a deep red with other colors now available.

I first saw a blooming autumn sage — it was Furman’s Red — on a school garden tour hosted by our Maricopa County Extension office. It was gorgeous, festooned with ...