Hot Lips Sage

Hot Lips Sage (Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips')

Hot Lips Sage (Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips') is a striking, bicolor-flowered sage known for its vibrant red and white blooms. This long-blooming, heat- and drought-tolerant perennial is a favorite among pollinators and makes a bold statement in garden beds, borders, and containers.

Distinctive Features

Hot Lips Sage is prized for its unique, two-toned flowers that appear in red and white, often shifting in color based on temperature and seasonal changes. Its aromatic green foliage provides additional sensory appeal, and its bushy, upright growth habit ensures a full display of flowers from late spring through fall. This variety is highly attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade.
• Soil: Thrives in well-draining, moderately fertile soil.
• Water: Moderate watering; drought-tolerant once established.
• Humidity: Adaptable to a range of humidity conditions.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-10.

Ideal Uses

• Pollinator Gardens: A favorite of hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.
• Garden Borders & Beds: Provides long-lasting color and texture.
• Containers & Patio Gardens: Thrives in pots, making a vibrant display.
• Cottage & Wildlife Gardens: Complements mixed plantings beautifully.

Low Maintenance Care

Hot Lips Sage is an easy-to-grow plant that requires minimal care beyond occasional pruning and watering.

• Watering: Water regularly when young; reduce watering once established.
• Pruning: Trim spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering and shape the plant.
• Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer in spring to promote vigorous blooming.
• Propagation: Easily propagated by cuttings.

Why Choose Hot Lips Sage?

With its eye-catching flowers, extended bloom period, and pollinator-friendly nature, Hot Lips Sage is an excellent choice for a variety of garden settings.

• Unique & Playful Blooms: Red and white bicolor flowers shift with the seasons.
• Long Blooming Season: Flowers continuously from late spring through fall.
• Pollinator Magnet: Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.
• Drought-Tolerant: Thrives in dry conditions once established.
• Versatile Placement: Ideal for borders, containers, and wildlife gardens.

For those looking to add a dynamic, pollinator-friendly plant to their garden, Hot Lips Sage (Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips') is a fantastic choice.