Hot Lips Salvia
For sale in Lawrenceville, GA
- Moderate to Fast
- Full Sun to Part Shade
- Cold hardy to USDA Zone 8a
- Deer resistant
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About Hot Lips Salvia
Hot Lips Salvia (Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips') is famous for its distinctive bicolor flowers, red and white on the same bloom, and sometimes on the same plant simultaneously, that appear almost continuously from late spring until the first hard frost, giving it one of the longest bloom seasons of any perennial salvia grown in Georgia. It grows into a rounded, shrubby mound 2-3 feet tall and wide with small, aromatic leaves, and the flower color pattern can shift with temperature, running more solid red in hot summer weather and more distinctly bicolor in cooler spring and fall conditions. It tolerates both full sun and part shade and, once established, handles drought well, needing minimal supplemental water except during extended dry spells. Hummingbirds are strongly attracted to its tubular flowers throughout the long bloom season, making it a favorite for pollinator gardens. Its aromatic foliage discourages deer browsing, and its nearly nonstop flowering with minimal deadheading required makes it one of the lowest-maintenance, longest-blooming perennials for a sunny Lawrenceville garden bed.
🚚 Delivery available to Lawrenceville and all of Gwinnett County — see our service area for exact timing.
Plant Specifications
| Mature Height | 2-3 ft |
|---|---|
| Mature Width | 2-3 ft |
| Sun Requirements | Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Water Needs | Low to Moderate — drought tolerant once established |
| Bloom Season | Late Spring through Frost |
| Growth Rate | Moderate to Fast |
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 8a |
| Deer Resistant | Yes |
| Pet Safe | Check with a vet |
| Native to Georgia | No |
Planting Instructions & Regional Tips
Plant Hot Lips Salvia in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil; it tolerates Georgia clay reasonably well once established but appreciates improved drainage. Light shearing after the first bloom flush encourages denser growth and continued flowering. Water regularly the first season; established plants tolerate moderate drought with only occasional deep watering needed. Once established in a Gwinnett County landscape, it needs only occasional deep watering during dry stretches rather than a regular irrigation schedule.
Fast Facts
- Distinctive red-and-white bicolor flowers
- Mature size: 2-3 ft tall and wide
- Blooms nearly continuously late spring through frost
- Flower color pattern shifts with temperature
- Strong hummingbird attractant, deer resistant
- Drought tolerant once established
Pairs Well With
Hot Lips Salvia FAQs
Why are Hot Lips Salvia flowers sometimes all red?
Hot Lips Salvia's signature red-and-white bicolor flowers can shift to solid red during periods of intense summer heat, then return to the classic bicolor pattern as temperatures cool in fall and spring. This temperature-driven color variation is a normal characteristic of the cultivar, not a sign of a problem.
Is Hot Lips Salvia deer resistant?
Yes, Hot Lips Salvia is considered deer resistant, making it a reliable choice for Gwinnett County properties bordering wooded areas with regular deer traffic. As with any "deer resistant" plant, hungry deer in a hard winter may still sample new growth occasionally, but damage is typically minimal.