Hot Lips Sage Salvia 'Hot Lips'
ABOUT
Salvia 'Hot Lips' is a strikingly beautiful plant that features a unique coloration in its flowers. The blossoms are bicolored, with each individual flower showcasing a vibrant red at the top lip, while the bottom lip is a pure, snowy white, giving the appearance of a hot red kiss on a cool white background. The flowers are small but abundant, closely packed together in whorls along the stem that create a showy display. The foliage is equally attractive, consisting of small, green, ovate leaves that are slightly wrinkled with a textured surface. The contrast between the greenery and the red-and-white flowers makes 'Hot Lips' a visually captivating plant. This plant typically blooms profusely, covering the plant in a blanket of these delightful two-toned flowers, creating a dazzling effect throughout the blooming season. The foliage may also emit a pleasant scent when brushed against or crushed, adding another layer of sensory enjoyment to this eye-catching variety.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Lamiaceae.
Synonyms
Hot Lips Sage, Hot Lips Salvia.
Common names
Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips'.
ToxicityTo humans
Hot Lips sage (Salvia 'Hot Lips') is generally considered non-toxic to humans. There are no widespread reports of significant toxicity and no well-documented symptoms of poisoning from ingesting this plant. However, as with any plant material, individual sensitivities and allergic reactions can occur, so it is still advisable to avoid ingesting it.
To pets
Hot Lips sage (Salvia 'Hot Lips') is also generally considered non-toxic to pets such as dogs and cats. There is no significant evidence to suggest that this plant poses a poisoning risk to household pets. However, ingestion of plant material could potentially cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some animals due to individual sensitivities, although this is not specifically linked to toxicity.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Mixed
Height
2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meters)
Spread
2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meters)
Plant type
Shrub
Hardiness zones
7-9
Native area
Mexico
Benefits
General Benefits- Attractive to Pollinators: 'Hot Lips' sage is known to attract bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, which helps with pollination in the garden.
- Drought Tolerant: Once established, it has low water requirements, making it suitable for xeriscaping or in regions with water scarcity.
- Long Blooming: It flowers prolifically from early summer right through to the first frosts, providing long-lasting color in the garden.
- Low Maintenance: Requires minimal care beyond the occasional pruning to maintain its shape and encourage new blooms.
- Deer Resistant: Typically resistant to deer browsing, which can be particularly beneficial in areas where deer predation is a problem.
- Easy to Propagate: Can be readily propagated by cuttings, allowing gardeners to easily increase their stock.
- Versatile Landscaping: Suitable for use in borders, container gardens, and as a focal point due to its vibrant color and bushy growth habit.
- Aromatic Foliage: Leaves emit a pleasant scent when brushed against, adding another layer of sensory enjoyment to the garden.
- Durable: Shows resilience to many pests and diseases, making it a reliable and robust choice for various garden settings.
- Frost Hardy: Capable of withstanding light frosts, thus it can thrive in a range of climates with minimal winter protection.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Artistic Inspiration: The striking red and white flowers of the 'Hot Lips' sage can inspire artists and photographers, serving as a muse for paintings, drawings, and garden photography.
- Craft Projects: Dried 'Hot Lips' sage flowers can be used in crafting, such as in homemade potpourris, sachets, or as part of a dried flower arrangement.
- Educational Use: Teachers may use 'Hot Lips' plants in a classroom setting to teach students about pollination, plant biology and the importance of bees and other pollinators in the environment.
- Nectar Source for Homemade Syrups: Home cooks might experiment with the nectar from the 'Hot Lips' sage flowers to flavor homemade syrups for use in cocktails or desserts.
- Culinary Garnish: Fresh flowers of the 'Hot Lips' sage can be used as an edible garnish on salads, desserts, or other dishes to add a pop of color and mild flavor.
- Natural Dye: The bright petals may be boiled to extract a natural dye for fabric or yarn, though the color fastness and vibrancy will vary.
- Garden Themes: 'Hot Lips' sage can be used in thematic garden designs, such as a patriotic red, white and blue garden theme or a Valentine’s Day theme with its red and white flowers symbolizing love and affection.
- Greeting Cards: Pressed flowers from the 'Hot Lips' sage can be used in creating homemade greeting cards or bookmarks.
- Butterfly Garden Attractant: Planting 'Hot Lips' in your garden can create a butterfly-friendly habitat, attracting various species with its nectar-rich flowers.
- Floral Ice Cubes: The small flowers of 'Hot Lips' sage can be frozen into ice cubes to add an elegant touch to summer beverages.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe plant Hot Lips Salvia is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe plant Hot Lips Salvia is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Healing: Salvia plants, also commonly known as sage, are often associated with healing properties due to their widespread use in traditional medicine for cleansing and therapeutic purposes.
- Wisdom: The Latin name Salvia is derived from 'salvere,' meaning 'to save' or 'to heal,' which has historically linked the plant to wisdom and the sage's revered position in ancient cultures.
- Protection: Sage has been traditionally used in smudging rituals to purify and protect spaces from negative energies.
- Longevity: Due to their hardy nature and the long-lasting properties of some Salvia species, they can be symbolic of a long life and enduring strength.
- Immortality: In some cultures, sage is seen as a gateway to immortality, possibly because of its long-lived nature and evergreen qualities in certain varieties.
WaterHot Lips salvia should be watered about once a week, providing one to two gallons of water for each mature plant or enough to keep the soil consistently moist without waterlogging. During the heat of summer, water needs may increase to twice a week, especially for plants in containers or in full sun. Reduce watering in the fall as the plant prepares for dormancy. Water directly at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which can lead to fungal diseases.
LightHot Lips salvia thrives best in full sun to partial shade. For robust blooming and vigorous growth, aim to provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. If grown indoors, place it near a sunny window where it can receive ample light. In hotter climates, some afternoon shade is beneficial to prevent scorching.
TemperatureHot Lips salvia prefers temperatures between 60°F and 85°F but can survive brief dips as low as 20°F and tolerate high temperatures up to 100°F. It's cold-hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10. To ensure it thrives, protect it from extreme cold by mulching or bringing potted plants indoors during winter chill.
PruningPrune Hot Lips salvia in early spring or after the last frost to encourage bushy growth and more flowers. Cut back by about a third of the plant's height to maintain its shape and remove any dead or damaged stems. Deadheading, or the removal of spent flowers, encourages continuous blooming throughout the growing season.
CleaningAs needed
SoilThe best soil mix for Hot Lips salvia is well-draining soil with a high content of organic matter. Aim for a soil pH that is slightly acidic to neutral, between 6.0 and 7.0. A mix of garden soil, compost, and perlite or pumice can provide the appropriate drainage and nutrients required for robust growth.
RepottingHot Lips salvia should be repotted every 2-3 years to refresh the soil and to accommodate the growing root system. Repotting is best done in spring before new growth begins, taking care to not disturb the roots too much.
Humidity & MistingHot Lips salvia can handle a wide range of humidity levels, but it prefers moderate conditions. Avoid overly dry air, aiming for a humidity level around 40-60%. It can adapt to lower humidity, making it suitable for most homes without the need for additional humidity.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Ensure bright sunlight and well-draining soil for indoor Hot Lips salvia.
Outdoor
Plant in full sun to part shade and well-draining soil for outdoor Hot Lips salvia.
Hardiness zone
7-10 USDA
Life cycleThe life cycle of 'Hot Lips' Sage starts with germination, where seeds sprout and form seedlings under warm temperatures and sufficient moisture. These seedlings then grow into young plants, developing a strong root system and foliage through the vegetative stage, which is characterized by rapid growth given adequate sunlight, water, and nutrients. The transition to the flowering stage occurs as daylight increases or decreases past certain thresholds, depending on the variety, leading to 'Hot Lips' blooming profusely with its distinctive red and white bi-colored flowers. This floral display can attract pollinators, thereby facilitating the reproductive stage where the flowers are pollinated and develop into seed pods. After seed maturation, the plant disperses them, completing its reproductive cycle. Over time or with seasonal changes, 'Hot Lips' may enter a period of dormancy, especially in cooler climates, where growth slows down or ceases until favorable conditions return.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Early Summer
The Salvia 'Hot Lips', also known as Hot Lips Sage, can be propagated by cuttings, which is its most popular method. The best time to take cuttings for propagation is in late spring to early summer. By then, the plant has fresh, semi-hardwood growth which can be snipped off just below the node. The cuttings, about 3 to 5 inches long, are then stripped of leaves on the lower half and dipped in rooting hormone before being inserted into a moistened potting mix. The ideal temperature for rooting these cuttings is between 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 24 degrees Celsius), and they should be kept in indirect light until roots develop, typically within a few weeks, after which they can be potted up individually and gradually acclimatized to outdoor conditions.
