Brilliant red and white flowers from late spring through summer make Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ a standout in the garden. It is an evergreen perennial and will spot flower right through the year in warmer climate zones.
This is an evergreen perennial salvia microphylla species, and it has a fast strong growth habit, once established little care is required.
The flowers rise well above the foliage and with the bright colours make it a great plant for the garden border. Fast growing and reaching around 1 metre (3ft) in height it is easy care and low maintenance.
How to Grow Salvia ‘Hot Lips’
- Plant in full sun to just a little afternoon shade.
- A humus rich well drained soil is preferred.
- Dig in some well rotted compost and cow manure before planting.
- Plant at the same depth it was in the container.
- Water in with a little liquid seaweed fertiliser.
- Mulch around the plant to maintain a cool moist root run.
Watering
Water in summer over long dry periods.
Pruning Salvia ‘Hot Lips’
To keep Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ flowering well and in good shape we recommend prune hard once a year in late winter to early spring. You can also give the plant alight prune in early summer as the first flush of flowers fades.
Summary Information
- Botanical Name – Salvia x jamensis ‘Hot Lips’
- Common Name – Salvia ‘Hot Lips’
- Position – Full sun to a little shade
- Soil – Humus rich well drained
- Height – To around 1 metre (3 ft)
- Spread – To around 1 metre.
- Flowers – Red and White.
- Flowering Tine – Spring through summer into autumn depending on climate
- Frost tolerant – Medium
- Drought tolerant – Yes
Salvia Hotlips is available for sale from the following nurseries
www.planterspatch.com.au