Salvia ‘Hot Lips’

Common Name:
Salvia ‘Hot Lips’

Description:
Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ is a bold and eye-catching perennial prized for its striking two-toned flowers and long flowering season. Native to Mexico, this variety of Salvia microphylla features small, aromatic green leaves and abundant blooms that appear in vivid red and white — often with petals that split into half-red, half-white, or vary in colour depending on temperature and light. In cooler weather, flowers may turn solid red or white, giving the plant dynamic visual interest throughout the growing season. It thrives in Melbourne gardens where it enjoys full sun and free-draining soil, showing excellent drought tolerance once established. ‘Hot Lips’ blooms prolifically from spring through to late autumn, attracting bees, butterflies, and small nectar-feeding birds. It forms a dense, bushy shrub with a soft, mounding habit, making it ideal for mixed borders, cottage gardens, low hedging, and pots. Pruning in late winter encourages a compact shape and more vigorous flowering.

Form:

• Shrub - Small

• Shrub - Clumping / Grass-like / Mounding

Mature Size:

• Height: 80–100 cm

• Width: 80–100 cm

Aspect:

• Full Sun

• Part Shade

Flowering:

• Flowers in Spring

• Flowers in Summer

• Flowers in Autumn

Flower Colour:

• Red

• White

• Bi-colour (red and white)

Key Attributes:

• Suitable for Pots

• Drought Tolerant

• Bee Attracting

• Bird Attracting

• Perennial

• Long Flowering Season

• Aromatic Foliage

• Suitable for Low Hedging

Toxicity:
Not known to be toxic to humans or animals.

Companion Plants:

• Lavender ‘Hidcote’

• Gaura lindheimeri

• Achillea millefolium

• Verbena bonariensis

• Echinacea purpurea

• Rosemary officinalis

Plant Growers Australia (PGA) is an innovative wholesale production nursery based in Melbourne, renowned for superior quality garden plants and pioneering breeding programs.
PGA do not sell direct to the public, but their website has detailed information on this species that is available for everyone to access. 
Visit www.pga.com.au for further details and photos of this plant.