Hot Lips Salvia – Desert Horizon Nursery

Hot Lips Salvia

Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips'
Categories:
Shrubs  ·  
Shrubs
Light
Full sun (afternoon shade in low desert)
Water
Low to moderate once established; water deeply, then let the upper few inches of soil dry. Provide supplemental irrigation during Phoenix's extreme summer heat.
Size
2-3 ft tall × 2-3 ft wide
Habit
Mounded – spreading shrub
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Description
A compact, woody perennial salvia with aromatic green leaves and distinctive red-and-white flowers that attract hummingbirds.
Bloom Time
Spring through fall
Deciduous / Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Special Features
Attracts Bees / Pollinators, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Drought Tolerant, Fragrant
Growth Rate
Moderate to fast
Growth Habit
Mounded – spreading shrub
Mature Size
2-3 ft tall × 2-3 ft wide
Flower Color
Red and white (bicolor)
Foliage Color
Medium green
Landscape Use
Border / Bed, Container / Patio, Hedge / Screen, Pollinator / Wildlife Garden
Garden Style
Container / Patio, Hedge / Formal, Pollinator / Wildlife
Soil
Alkaline Tolerant, Sandy / Rocky, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
'Little John' bottlebrush, Autumn sage, Blackfoot daisy, Desert marigold, Red yucca
Non-toxic
Non-toxic
Care Instructions

Light: Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal in Phoenix; avoid reflected heat from west-facing walls and paving.

Water: Low to moderate once established; water deeply, then let the upper few inches of soil dry. Provide supplemental irrigation during Phoenix’s extreme summer heat.

Soil: Well-drained sandy or loamy soil; tolerates alkaline soil. Avoid waterlogged conditions and improve drainage in heavy clay.

Mature size: 2–3 feet tall and 3–4 feet wide.

Bloom: Spring through fall, often with strongest flowering in spring and autumn; blooming may slow during extreme summer heat.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen to semi-evergreen in Phoenix; frost may cause leaf loss or stem dieback.

Growth rate: Moderate to fast with suitable watering and temperatures.