Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ requires annual pruning to prevent it from becoming leggy and overgrown. Cut it back twice yearly during early spring and again during the summer using sharp, clean shears for best results.
“Hot Lips” thrives in sunny garden borders, where its fragrant blooms attract bees and butterflies with its irresistible fragrance. Additionally, this plant is relatively hardy against winter frosts, preferring loamy soil that drains well while remaining moderately fertile.
Blooming Season
Hot Lips’ is an easy-care perennial flower popular among gardeners. This heat-loving plant blooms from summer into fall in temperate climates and attracts hummingbirds with its striking design and bold colors. Perfect for front or middle garden borders, cottage gardens, or other sunny landscapes where sun exposure is present; growing zones 7-10. Relatively resistant to diseases and pests like leafhoppers, snails, and slugs; long lifespan.
Hot Lips’ should be planted in a large container and placed in direct sunlight; they should not become waterlogged or parched. Soil should be well-draining with ample organic matter content, while more frequent but deeper watering may be necessary during hot and dry weather; when temperatures cool off more, more infrequent yet deeper watering should suffice.
These plants do not prefer any specific soil type; however, well-draining soil should be provided, and their ideal pH range lies between 6 and 6.5.
As with anything requiring attention, weeding requires extra consideration as they proliferate rapidly if left alone. Mulching heavily will help inhibit their spread while keeping soil moisture levels suitable for survival.
“Hot Lips” thrives best in full sun but may accept partial shade in milder climates in the afternoon. Perfect for perennial borders and garden beds, or used as part of an elegant container arrangement with other heat-loving plants like Blue Fortune Hyssop and Mountain Mint for an added layer of heat tolerance.
Hot Lips’ flowering salvias are one of the easiest to care for, needing only light pruning and deadheading for maximum enjoyment in any garden space. Ideal year-round garden specimens make a striking year-round garden specimen suitable for borders, beds, or large containers – although once established, they do require regular watering and deep soakings during periods of dry weather if they become drought tolerant. Shrubs also benefit from light trimming in spring to stimulate new growth and another light trim later in summer to keep upkeep.
Soil
Hot lips plant blooms attract bees and other pollinators, making it an excellent sun-loving plant to add to garden beds or ornamental borders. Its bright flowers attract bees and other pollinators, making this perennial plant easy to care for in zones 7-10; alternatively, it can also be grown in containers, which can then be moved indoors during the winter.
Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ needs plenty of sun and well-draining soil to thrive, so clay soil may benefit from being amended with sand or vermiculite for improved drainage. Fertile but not overly fertile soil is optimal; pH levels between neutral and slightly acidic should provide optimal conditions.
Textured soils are determined primarily by their relative proportions of inorganic particles of various sizes, which profoundly impacts water retention and overall structure. Fine textures hold and distribute water more effectively, while coarse-textured soils drain faster.
Soils come in various shades depending on their composition; sandy soils tend to be lighter-toned and more susceptible to erosion, while clay-rich ones are darker and denser.
Gardening professionals concur that loamy soil with good drainage and loose structure is ideal for cultivating salvia ‘hot lips’. Dense or compact soil may make it hard for the plant to absorb enough water, while poor drainage could result in root rot or even cause it to die off completely.
Hot lips salvia needs regular fertilization to bloom throughout the summer. A balanced fertilizer may do just fine; for an increase in flower production, you could switch to a high-phosphorus fertilizer blend instead. Avoid cutting more than one-third of each stem at once when pruning, and always use clean tools to reduce disease spread. After complete pruning, deadhead and give the salvia another light trimming in late summer for additional blooms.
Water
Hot lips salvia is an attractive perennial that thrives in sunny locations with well-draining soil, producing long-blooming garden showstopper blooms that attract hummingbirds. Easy to care for and maintain, its two-tone flowers have red centers with white tips – these colors may change during summer depending on temperatures. For optimal growth, it should be planted early to settle before autumn frosts hit and establish itself properly before frosts arrive in autumn.
Sun-loving sage plants thrive in heat and drought and can be grown annually or perennially across most climates. You should mulch heavily during winter to protect it, moving indoors if the temperature gets freezing. Container planting may also be suitable, provided large, well-draining pots are used. The soil should preferably be light, sandy soil with good drainage capabilities for best results; amend heavy clay soil with additional sand and perlite to increase drainage if necessary.
Once established, Salvia plants require little water, as overwatering can increase their susceptibility to root rot. If you decide to water your salvia plants more regularly than necessary, do so only during periods of drought, as overdoing it may lead to leaf wilt and fungal or root disease issues.
Expect this plant to start flowering early in the summer and continue through fall, beginning as bicolored blooms that gradually transform to pure red as temperatures heat up. As well as blooming throughout its blooming period, the plant grows tall and wide for easy inclusion into flower beds or garden borders.
If you want your plant to remain smaller, prune lightly in late winter or early spring and give a second light trim later for added beauty and health benefits. A handful of salt added when pruning can also help improve its health and prevent root rot.
Pruning
Hot Lips plants make an excellent addition to cottage gardens or wildflower landscapes, as they thrive when temperatures heat up in the UK and exhibit high tolerance to heat and drought conditions. Their needs must be met so they remain blooming year-round.
At first, pruning will remove dead flowers and encourage new blooms to form. Next comes watering regularly – particularly during its initial years – so the plant can establish roots and adapt to its soil. Finally comes fertilizing: use an appropriate balanced fertilizer specifically formulated for flowering plants.
Sage plants tend not to be too picky about their soil; however, when planting them, it’s wise to choose a rich and well-draining garden mix with good drainage for best results. Mulching around it can help retain moisture for increased success; however, be wary not to overwater, as soggy soil can cause root rot in these delicate blooms.
Maintaining healthy salvias will ensure they bloom all summer long. They add beauty and attract bees and butterflies to any landscape, offering opportunities for pruning for use as cut flowers in salads – and have an aroma similar to black currants!
As a shrub, hot lips sage doesn’t require too much pruning; however, it is recommended that it is pruned in mid-to-late spring to maintain optimal results and stop it from becoming overgrown. Cleanup should be followed to avoid spreading pests and diseases; use only sharp blades when trimming salvias; don’t trim more than one-third of their stem at once.
