Annuals
Salvia 'Hot Lips'
Hot Lips little-leaf sage
Also known as: Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips' · Salvia × jamensis 'Hot Lips'
Small red-and-white flowers cover aromatic, shrubby growth over a long season. The amount of red and white changes with growing conditions, so blooms may look different as temperatures shift. Plant in a sunny, freely drained spot where its pollinator-friendly flowers can be enjoyed up close.
At a glance
- Sun
- Full sun
- Mature size
- About 3 ft. (mature shrub reference) tall × About 3 ft. (mature shrub reference) wide
- Water
- Moderate; allow some drying once established
- Bloom
- Red and white, sometimes solid red or white; summer until frost
- Life cycle
- Often grown seasonally; winter survival depends on site and cold
Sizes & prices
- 4.5"$5.99
Catalog updated September 8, 2026. This is not a live stock count; please call to confirm availability and price.
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Resistance & tolerances
- Drought
- Tolerant once established.
- Wet soil
- Avoid waterlogged soil and standing water.
- Heat
- Tolerant.
Pollinators & wildlife
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Seasonal interest
- Garden uses
- Sunny containers, borders and pollinator gardens.
Growing & care
- Soil & drainage
- Use freely draining garden soil or a container with drainage holes.
- Pruning
- Trim faded flowering stems to tidy growth; avoid cutting into bare old wood.
- Winter
- Protect from severe cold; not reliably winter-hardy in every local garden.
Sources & photo credits
Photo: Esternit · CC BY-SA 4.0
Image notes: Source photograph; resized without cropping.
Reviewed September 22, 2026. Growing conditions vary by location.