Potted Salvia Splendor: Exploring The Container Gardening Potential Of Salvia Hot Lips

Salvia 'Hot Lips' is a bushy ornamental sage that produces an abundance of eye-catching bicolour blooms in white and lipstick red. It is a half-hardy perennial that can be grown in a pot and will weather most winters without a problem, especially in the southern UK. In colder areas, it can be grown in a pot and kept in an unheated greenhouse during the winter months to protect it from the cold and damp, which tender plants tend to dislike. Salvia 'Hot Lips' grows well in full sun, well-drained soil, and a sheltered spot. It is drought-tolerant and flowers from early summer until the first frosts.

Salvia 'Hot Lips' thrives in well-drained soil and full sun

Salvia Hot Lips is a bushy ornamental sage variety that produces an abundance of eye-catching bicolour blooms in white and lipstick red. It is a half-hardy perennial that can weather most winters, especially in the southern UK. To ensure the plant's survival through the colder months, it is recommended to cover it with fleece. Salvia Hot Lips thrives in full sun, well-drained soil, and a sheltered location.

Well-drained soil is essential for the healthy growth of Salvia Hot Lips. The plant is drought-tolerant and can endure dry conditions, making well-drained soil a critical factor in its success. In addition, full sun exposure is vital for this plant. Salvia Hot Lips requires a significant amount of sunlight to flourish and produce its vibrant, colourful blooms. Therefore, it is advisable to select a spot that receives ample sunlight throughout the day.

When planted in a pot, Salvia Hot Lips can be grown in a cold area and moved to an unheated greenhouse during the winter to protect it from excessive cold and moisture. This strategy can help the plant retain its leaves during the winter, as it is typically the combination of cold and damp conditions that causes leaf loss. Repotting the plant annually and providing regular feeding during the summer months will also contribute to its overall health and vitality.

Salvia Hot Lips grows well in bright red pots, adding instant impact to patios or other outdoor spaces. It has a pleasant blackcurrant aroma when crushed or brushed against, and its leaves can be used fresh or dried for flavouring. Salvia Hot Lips typically grows to around 2 feet in height and has a delicate canopy of small, glossy green oval leaves that beautifully complement its brilliant flowers.

It's drought-tolerant and flowers from early summer to the first frost

Salvia 'Hot Lips' is a drought-tolerant plant that flowers from early summer until the first frost. It is a woody sage native to Mexico, usually considered a form of Salvia microphylla, or Blackcurrant Sage. It is semi-hardy and will grow happily outdoors, although it may lose many of its leaves in the winter.

To ensure your Salvia 'Hot Lips' survives the winter, it is best to place it in a well-drained spot in full sun, and offer it shelter. In colder areas, it can be grown in a pot and kept in an unheated greenhouse for the winter, as it is the combination of cold and damp that can be harmful to the plant. If you choose to grow it in a pot, repot it once a year and feed it regularly during the summer months.

Salvia 'Hot Lips' produces eye-catching bi-colour blooms in white and lipstick red, which appear from July to October. The plant grows to a height of around 90cm, with a spread of 60cm. The foliage has a pleasant blackcurrant aroma when crushed, and the flowers have a sweet taste, making them suitable for use in small quantities to decorate salads.

To propagate Salvia 'Hot Lips', strip 3-inch shoot tips of their lower leaves and push them into pots of sandy compost. Once well-rooted, pot up the young plants and overwinter them in a cool greenhouse or porch.

It's a semi-hardy plant, but can be grown in a pot and moved to a greenhouse in winter

Salvia 'Hot Lips' is a semi-hardy plant that can be grown in a pot and moved to a greenhouse during winter. Classified as a half-hardy perennial, it should survive most winters without a problem, especially in the southern UK. However, in colder regions, it is advisable to grow it in a pot and bring it indoors or into an unheated greenhouse to protect it from harsh winter conditions.

When grown in a pot, Salvia 'Hot Lips' requires repotting once a year and regular feeding during the summer months. It thrives in well-drained soil, full sun, and a sheltered spot. Pruning in spring will encourage new growth and keep the plant healthy. Taking cuttings in mid to late summer is also recommended as a backup plan.

Salvia 'Hot Lips' is a bushy ornamental sage that produces eye-catching bicolour blooms in white and lipstick red. Its height can reach up to 90cm, while its spread can extend to 60cm. The plant is valued for its long flowering period, typically lasting from July to October, and its ability to add colour and interest to gardens, even in small spaces.

To create a bright and vibrant display, pair Salvia 'Hot Lips' with plants such as perovskias, sedums, and blue-flowered salvias like S. nemorosa 'Caradonna'. It is also well-suited for a sunny spot in the garden, such as at the foot of a house wall, where it can form a colourful border.

Salvia 'Hot Lips' grows to around 2ft high and has a delicate canopy of small, glossy green oval leaves

Salvia Hot Lips is a bushy ornamental sage variety that produces an abundance of eye-catching, lipstick-red and white bicolour blooms. It grows to around 2ft high and has a delicate canopy of small, glossy green oval leaves. This variety of sage is a great choice for those looking to add a pop of colour to their garden, as the brilliant flowers stand out against the backdrop of the plant's delicate foliage.

Salvia Hot Lips is a half-hardy perennial that can withstand most winters, especially in the southern UK. It thrives in full sun, well-drained soil, and a sheltered spot. If you live in a colder area, you can grow it in a pot and keep it in an unheated greenhouse during the winter to protect it from the cold and damp, which tender plants often struggle with.

When grown in a pot, Salvia Hot Lips should be repotted once a year and regularly fed during the summer months. This variety of sage is drought-tolerant and flowers from early summer until the first hard frosts. It typically grows to a height of around 2ft, making it a great choice for those looking to add some colour and interest to a small garden or patio.

The Salvia Hot Lips plant has a unique feature—its leaves give off a pleasant blackcurrant aroma when crushed or brushed past. Not only do the leaves smell delightful, but they can also be used fresh or dried as a flavouring for herbal tea. The flowers are also edible and can be used to decorate salads.

The flowers are attractive to bees, and the leaves have a pleasant blackcurrant smell

Salvia 'Hot Lips' is a bushy ornamental sage variety that produces an abundance of eye-catching, bi-colour blooms in white and lipstick red. It is a half-hardy perennial that can weather most winters, especially in the southern UK. It is a drought-tolerant plant that grows well in well-drained soil and a sunny spot.

Salvia 'Hot Lips' is an attractive plant for bees, and its leaves have a pleasant blackcurrant smell. The nectar of the flowers is at the bottom of the tube, and bees can reach it by pushing down on the lower petal and crawling inside. Short-tongued bumblebees sometimes "cheat" by biting a hole in the base of the flower to steal the nectar without pollinating it. The leaves can be bruised to release the blackcurrant aroma and are also used fresh or dried as flavouring for herbal tea.

To grow Salvia 'Hot Lips' in a pot, repot it once a year and feed it regularly during the summer months. It can be grown in a pot and kept in an unheated greenhouse during the winter in colder areas to protect it from the cold and damp, which tender plants often dislike.

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