Salvia 'Hot Lips'
sage 'Hot Lips'
A bushy plant, about 100 x 100cm, evergreen if not cut back by frost, with small, ovate, aromatic green leaves. Flowers are borne in loose terminal racemes, red in midsummer, bicolored red and white in July and August, sometimes completely white when the days shorten. Very floriferous in all its colour stages, continuing to the first frost
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Red | Green | ||
| Autumn | White Red | Green | ||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
Salvia can be annuals, biennials, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, or shrubs. They have paired, simple or pinnately lobed, often aromatic leaves and 2-lipped flowers in whorls, forming simple or branched spikes or racemes
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in light, moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil or well-drained soil. Best in full sun but can tolerate light partial shade
Propagation
Propagate by basal cuttings, or by softwood cuttings in spring or early summer, or by semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer or autumn with bottom heat
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Mediterranean climate plants
- City and courtyard gardens
- Gravel garden
- Patio and container plants
- Wildlife gardens
- Flower borders and beds
- Wall side borders
Pruning
Pruning group 9 in spring, deadhead to prolong flowering
Pests
May be susceptible to slugs, snails, rosemary beetle and leafhoppers
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), powdery mildews, verticillium wilt and foot and root rots
Get involved
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