Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips'
Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’ in bloom in June 2013 on the 40% ETo treatment. Photo: SK Reid.
Summary
UC Davis is located in Davis, California, this site has a silty clay loam soil and plants are irrigated with potable water. More information about the field sites is located in the Nuts & Bolts section.
Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips' is truly a plant worthy of the All-Stars name. It bloomed from March to December with really heavy bloom for the four months June through September. The best flowering and foliage appearance were in the 40 to 60% of ETo range, with only marginally higher relative growth on the 60% treatment.
Hot Lips was mostly unaffected by disease symptoms and was insect pest free. There was a strong and unpredictable tendency for the red “lips” appearance of flowers to revert to either all red or all white, often on the same shrub. This seems to be a common phenomenon where this plant has been seen growing in other areas as well.
Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’ on the 20% ETo treatment in May 2013. Photo: SK Reid.
Basic Info
| Submitted by: | UC Davis Arboretum All-Stars |
| Site(s): | UC Davis |
| Trial Exposure: | Sun |
| Year evaluated: | 2013 |
Height & Width after 2 years: | 2.5' x 5.1' |
Reported Height & Width at maturity: | 3' x 3' |
| WUCOLS plant type: | S A |
| Water Needs & WUCOLS Region: | Medium - Region 2 |
Mean Overall Appearance rating: (1-5 Scale, 5 is highest) | 4.0 |
Flowering Months: | March-December |
Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’ in bloom in August 2013 on the 40% ETo treatment. Photo: SK Reid.
