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Death of all Hot Lips!

francoathI-aTvuUcfrancoathI-aTvuUc Posts: 1
in Plants
Has anyone else lost every one of the hot lips in this wet cold winter or is it just me. I've had them for years through much more severe Winters and this one but this one was merciless.
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  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    tee hee. I read that as 
    Death to all hot lips. 
    Devon.
  • roseladyXAJDHACMroseladyXAJDHACM Posts: 2
    I have three Hot Lips plants mine look dead to,but I am waiting for the ground to warm up and hopefully they will start to shoot I haven’t cut them back just left them
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited March 2023
    Far too soon to condemn them.  Wait to see if they send out new shoots form the base and don't prune them yet as the stems will provide some frost protection to the crown and any dormant buds.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited March 2023
    It depends how you're defining much more severe winters.  :)
    This winter has been different - wet/freeze/thaw cycles of weather. That's very different from just heavier frosts -ie below around minus 6, 7 ,8 and beyond, which are occurring in drier conditions. 

    It's why many plants which are normally fine, have failed. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @francoathI-aTvuUc I think there will be a lot of woody salvias that have died over winter. I grow S Mirage Cherry Red probably more tender than yours, not looking good.

    If you do have a greenhouse worth taking cuttings or very easy during the growing season outside.  When I was young no one left them out over winter much too cold, infact you rarely saw them for sale for that reason. With milder winters they have come through but wet and cold combined has been the most likely reason for losses this year.

    There are lots of different ones out there if you decide to replace but always a risk.  Old plants are more vunerable too. Welcome!
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    @GardenerSuze Oh no, I have 
    Salvia Microphylla Porthos in a pot and kept it in a relatively sheltered position outside. It has about 2 leaves left. I have never tried to grow this before, but bought it because of the heatwave and drought in 2022! 
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @clematisdorset It often feels like the weather is one step ahead. You are further south than me which should help, I haven't totally given up but not looking good. Some of the woody salvias are hardier than others. As to which they are it can get confusing with such a genus of plants. I would have thought Hot Lips was tougher but micro climate has a big effect too.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • WAMSWAMS Posts: 1,960
    Aww, shame. I have one in a forgotten about part of the garden and it currently looks dead. My other salvias (nemorosa types... cardonna, whites) are only just starting to re-emerge / regrow leaves, so I shan't give up on it yet.  

    I hope you can easily find replacements if yours has copped it, though. I do like them in the sun, with other whites and reds and pinks.
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    @GardenerSuze yes, you have hit the nail on the head!  Also microclimate is an interesting one. A neighbour is growing something very similar, it is a woody red salvia, in the style of Hot Lips but red coloured and is actually flowering right now (3 petals seen today) ...but is in the ground, less that half a mile from the coast. This crazy weather is just unpredictable, I don't know whether to make a rain garden or a rock garden!!!  :open_mouth:
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • parrotfeather*parrotfeather* Posts: 188
    You may find it is still alive. Every year my husband informs me that various Salvias are dead but is surprised when  they eventually appear. It can take a very long time so don't dig yours up yet. We have also been fooled into thinking the plants have given up when it was snails chewing all the new shoots.
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