Today's plant of the day for Salvias is Blackcurrant Sage (Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips').

This plant can be found in the ATP Plant Database at:
Blackcurrant Sage (Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips') .

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Blackcurrant Sage (Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips')

I have a love/hate relationship with this plant. I love it for its pretty blooms and ease of care. It's evergreen in my garden and it grows easily in spots where other plants don't particularly want to grow. It's also drought resistant.

On the other hand, I've had to take two of these plants out of my flower beds because they overwhelm the other plants. I also don't like its strong scent. I'm always tempted to hold my nose when I walk past it. The worst thing about it, however, is its name. I always hope visitors to my garden won't ask me for the name of this plant.

The one I bought seems to have been mismarked as it NEVER bloomed with the bicolor, only red.

I'm in zone 8 and do like this plant. It seems to be somewhat less overwhelming to other plants than zulu's maybe because I'm in zone 8. Of course , it depends on what kind of winter I have. It is pretty easy to start new plants from cuttings if you need to down size. I like the fact that it changes thru the summer in flower color. Mine usually starts out all red, turning to red and white, then all white, then back to red and white. It make s a big statement. I really don't mind the scent.

Hot Lips in my SoCal garden would easily grow to 5'x5'.

I am wanting to cut mine back but I don't know how far down to go. Also I'm afraid that if I do cut it back it will be like releasing the Kraken, rampant destruction and exuberance with new growth. It's now 3 ft high and 2 ft wide. Any thoughts?

I used to cut salvias back in the Spring, by 1/3 to 2/3, depending on variety and growth....

I cut the one in my DB photo as far down as I can every year and it grows back just as big. Keeps it from outgrowing it's space which is 5'x5'. It does delay the first flowers slightly. It is the longest flowering plant in Hamilton Square Gardens.

I took a section of 3 ft high fencing and sandwiched it in between the tropicals on one side and daylilies on the other. So I will be cutting back in the spring, this will help the other plants get some sun before it bushes out again.

I agree with Leslieray. I've cut mine back almost to the ground and it was fine.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences with Hot Lips. I grew it for one year about a decade ago and it died the same year, since it isn't hardy for me. I had it growing in the ground at that time. I might get it again and am thinking of growing it in a container, as I usually do with non hardy plants and salvias.

I grew it three years ago in a pot, it did well but didn't get very big. At the time I wasn't able to bring it in for the winter, wish I had.

@luvsgrtdanes Ronnie

Beautiful pic!

Here is what ours looks like pruned for the winter from the same perspective. Looks brutal but you can see it fill the space every year.

That pic really pleases me...two of my favorite things, obviously plants ......and I love old cemeteries.

Sherry

HamiltonSquare said:Here is what ours looks like pruned for the winter from the same perspective. Looks brutal but you can see it fill the space every year.

Wow! It loves that spot and I'm sure the hummers love it too with all the flowers!

Glad you like it. It's an interesting place to garden. The list of perennials has just topped 800 this week. Over 70 salvias now. Visitors are full of praise for what the volunteers have done over the past 25+ years to restore and beautify it. I find it worthwhile and I'm crazy for interesting new plants. Here is S. 'Hot Lips' in November with a longer view. HamiltonSqureGarden is about an acre within the 29 acres of the cemetery.

I have major zone envy