With its vibrant bicolor blooms in red and white, Hot Lips sage (Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’) is one of the most popular ornamental salvias. This pretty plant thrives with simple care, rewarding the gardener with endless flowers perfect for bouquets.
About Hot Lips Sage
Hot Lips sage is a hybrid cultivar of Salvia microphylla the Graham sage. It was bred by the Walters Gardens nursery in Michigan and introduced commercially in the 1990s.
This semi-woody subshrub grows rapidly to form a bushy mound shape reaching 2-3 feet tall and wide. The small green leaves have a pleasing aromatic scent when crushed.
From late spring until frost, the flowers appear in loose terminal spikes. The blossoms shift in color based on temperature, exhibiting more red pigment in hot weather.
As a member of the sage family, Hot Lips sage attracts pollinators while resisting deer and rabbits. Once established, it is quite drought tolerant.
Growing Conditions
Hot Lips sage thrives in these conditions:
- Full sun exposure
- Hot climates, zones 8-11
- Average soil with good drainage
- Moderate watering, allow soil to dry between waterings
- Average to poor fertility, avoid high nitrogen
- Alkaline or neutral pH level
The plant struggles with wet soil, humidity, intense cold, and excessive fertilizer. Carefully choose its site to provide optimal growing conditions.
Planting
You can install plants in spring or fall. Allow 1-3 feet between plants for good air circulation. Follow these tips when planting:
- Loosen soil and remove weeds
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball
- Place plant at same depth it was originally growing
- Backfill hole, firming soil around roots
- Water thoroughly after planting
Transplanting Established Plants
Follow these steps to move an existing Hot Lips sage plant:
- Transplant in early spring or fall when temperatures are cool
- Water plant deeply the day before
- Dig up entire root mass and surrounding soil
- Place in new hole at same depth, backfill and water in
- Prune plant by 1/3 to reduce transplant stress
- Provide shade for 1-2 weeks to establish
Watering
- Young plants need weekly deep watering
- Established plants are drought tolerant but flower best with occasional irrigation
- Soak soil thoroughly then allow to dry between waterings
- Avoid wet leaves, which can lead to disease
- Do not overwater as plant is prone to root rot
- Ensure good drainage or amend soil to prevent waterlogging
Fertilizing
- Use a balanced organic fertilizer in early spring
- Apply a slow-release granular fertilizer at start of growing season
- Monthly liquid feeding with fish emulsion or seaweed solution
- Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers that cause leggy growth
- Limit fertilizer after September to prevent bitterness
Pruning
- Prune annually in early spring, cutting back by 1/3
- Remove dead or damaged growth anytime
- Pinch off spent flower spikes to encourage new blooms
- Cut back severely every 2-3 years to rejuvenate plants
- Pruning stimulates lush new growth and abundant flowering
Pest and Disease Control
Hot Lips sage is resistant to serious issues but may encounter:
- Powdery mildew in humidity – improve airflow
- Root rot in wet soil – do not overwater
- Aphids on new growth – spray off with water or insecticidal soap
- Leaf spot fungus – remove affected foliage promptly
- Lack of flowers in extreme heat or cold – site in optimal climate
- Leggy, open growth from too much shade or nitrogen – increase light and reduce fertilizer
Overwintering
- In zones 8-10, it may die back but re-emerge in spring
- Provide winter mulch in colder zones for root protection
- Cut back by half before winter for exposed sites
- Move potted plants indoors before frost
- Keep dormant plants cool and lightly moist over winter
Propagation from Cuttings
Hot Lips sage is easy to propagate from semi-hardwood cuttings in summer:
- Take 4-6 inch cuttings from vigorous new growth tips
- Remove lower leaves and buds
- Dip cutting ends in rooting hormone (optional)
- Stick cuttings in moist potting soil
- Maintain warm temperature of 65-75°F
- Keep soil evenly moist until new growth emerges
- Transplant new plants after a good root system develops
With attention to its basic needs, this rugged plant will provide carefree color in the garden for years to come. The vibrant blooms make a stunning addition to borders, containers, and pollinator gardens. Follow these simple care guidelines and enjoy your Hot Lips sage for many seasons.
Taxonomy Scientific name
Salvia Hot Lips needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5″ pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every 9
Does your plant get direct sunlight? No Yes
Select the pot size
Greg is a plant care intelligence that has learned how plants work so you can grow with confidence!
Finding light for Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ in your home
Salvia Hot Lips love being close to bright, sunny windows .
Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Salvia Hot Lips does not tolerate low-light .
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Salvia Hot Lips in your home .
Hot Lips Sage Plant Chat – QG Day 88
FAQ
Do hot lip plants come back every year?
Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ is hardy in USDA Zones 8–10. It tolerates heat and drought, making it an excellent choice for Mediterranean and arid climates. In colder regions, it may die back in winter but regrow in spring.
Do I need to cut back hot lips plant?
Prune back the outer stems by about one-third of their length to encourage branching and denser growth. This will keep your ‘Hot Lips’ salvia bushy and compact. Deadhead spent blooms throughout the growing season to encourage more flowers to form. How do I divide Salvia ‘Hot Lips’?
Where is the best place to plant hot lips?
It is half-hardy in colder areas; we suggest that you plant it in a container and move it to a sheltered location to over-winter. ‘Hot Lips’ prefers a light, free draining soil in full sun. Ideal for coastal locations.
Is hot lips a perennial plant?
Although perennial, Salvia x jamensis ‘Hot Lips’ will appreciate some winter protection in all but the mildest areas of the UK, especially during very cold, wet periods. When growing Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ in containers, it can be moved to a cold greenhouse or conservatory over the winter months.