Growing Vibrant Hot Lips Sage in Your Garden

With its eye-catching bicolor blooms in red and white, Hot Lips sage (Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’) is one of the most popular ornamental salvias for gardens. This compact perennial plant is easy to grow and rewards you with endless flowers perfect for bouquets from late spring until frost.

In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about successfully growing vibrant Hot Lips sage, including:

• Origin and features
• Planting and transplanting
• Optimal growing conditions
• Watering and fertilizing
• Pruning tips
• Pest and disease prevention
• Propagation from cuttings
• Overwintering care

About Hot Lips Sage

Hot Lips sage is a hybrid cultivar of the Graham sage (Salvia microphylla) It was first bred by Walters Gardens nursery in Michigan and introduced commercially in the 1990s,

This semi-woody subshrub grows rapidly to form a rounded, bushy shape It reaches 2-3 feet tall and wide when mature. The small green leaves have a lovely aromatic scent when crushed

Starting in late spring, the flowers bloom in loose terminal spikes. The tubular blossoms shift in color from bicolored red and white to solid red depending on the 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.

Planting Hot Lips Sage

Hot Lips sage thrives when planted in full sun exposure. Choose a site with well-draining soil and plenty of airflow. Amend dense or heavy soil with compost to improve drainage before planting.

You can install new plants in spring after the last frost or in fall before the first freeze. Space plants 1-3 feet apart to allow for good air circulation as they grow.

Follow these tips when planting:

• Prepare the soil by loosening and removing weeds.
• Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball.
• Carefully place the plant in the hole at the same depth it was originally growing.
• Backfill the hole and firm the soil around the roots.
• Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil.

Transplanting Established Plants

To move an existing Hot Lips sage plant, follow these steps:

• Wait until temperatures are cool in early spring or fall.
• Water the plant deeply the day before transplanting.
• Dig up the entire root mass with surrounding soil.
• Place it in the new hole at the same depth, backfill, and water in.
• Prune the plant by 1/3 after transplanting to reduce stress.
• Provide shade for 1-2 weeks while it establishes.

Growing Conditions

Hot Lips sage thrives in the following conditions:

• Full sun
• Hot climates, zones 8-11
• Average garden soil with excellent drainage
• Moderate watering, allow soil to dry between waterings
• Average to poor fertility, avoid high nitrogen fertilizers
• Alkaline or neutral pH level

Avoid wet soil, humidity, intense cold, and excessive fertilizer for best results. Select a site with optimal growing conditions for your climate.

Watering Needs

• Young plants need weekly deep watering until established.
• Mature plants are quite drought tolerant but flower best with occasional irrigation.
• Soak the soil thoroughly then allow it to dry out between waterings.
• Avoid getting the leaves wet, which can lead to foliar diseases.
• Don’t overwater, as Hot Lips sage is prone to root rot in heavy soil.

Fertilizing

• Use a balanced organic fertilizer or slow-release granular product in early spring.
• Liquid feed monthly with fish emulsion or seaweed solution during the growing season.
• Excess nitrogen leads to floppy, weak growth. Limit fertilizer after September.

Pruning

• Prune annually in early spring, cutting stems back by 1/3 to shape the plant.
• Pinch off spent flower spikes during the season to encourage reblooming.
• Remove any dead or damaged growth as needed.
• Cut back severely every 2-3 years to rejuvenate overgrown plants.

Regular pruning stimulates lush, compact growth and abundant flowering in Hot Lips sage.

Pest and Disease Prevention

Hot Lips sage is resistant to most issues but may encounter:

• Powdery mildew in high humidity – improve airflow.
• Root rot in soggy soil – do not overwater.
• Aphids on new growth – spray off with water or use insecticidal soap.
• Leaf spot fungus – remove and destroy affected foliage promptly.

Prevent problems by providing good growing conditions for your climate. Monitor plants to catch issues early and treat as needed.

Overwintering Care

• In zones 8-10, Hot Lips sage may die back to the ground in winter but re-emerge in spring.
• In colder climates, apply winter mulch over the roots for insulation.
• For exposed sites, cut stems back by half in fall to prevent winterkill.
• Bring potted plants indoors before frost. Keep dormant plants cool and lightly moist over winter.

Propagating from Cuttings

Hot Lips sage is very easy to propagate from semi-hardwood stem cuttings in summer:

• Take 4-6 inch cuttings from vigorous new growth tips.
• Strip off the lower leaves and buds.
• Dip the cut end in rooting hormone (optional).
• Stick into a pot filled with moist potting soil.
• Maintain warm temperature around 70°F.
• Keep the soil evenly moist until new growth emerges.
• Transplant new plants outdoors after a good root system develops.

From a small start, Hot Lips sage will quickly grow into a stellar garden performer. A little attention to its basic needs is all it takes to enjoy this rugged plant’s vibrant, carefree flowers for years to come. It makes a beautiful addition to borders, containers, and pollinator gardens.