I don't grow Hot Lips but I have a dozen or so other varieties of shrubby salvias. The ones planted in the ground and the ones in containers near the house walls are looking OK, with new foliage coming and some old leaves hanging on too (including last year's cuttings in small pots) but a couple that are in containers about a yard away from the ones against the front wall, just the other side of the path, are completely bare and the wood is brittle so I think those ones are probably dead. Fortunately they're duplicates so if I want to replace them I can take more cuttings. Most likely their compost was wetter when the first freeze came in early December.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
My Hot Lips and a couple of others are still very green, but 3 other woody ones look dead - I suspect (and hope) they're not. Part of the reason I love them is because of their tenacity, so don't make any decisions yet!
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!
If it has leaves (any leaves at all) then it's probably going to be fine.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
My Hot lips looked like dead, but I discovered yesterday a few new leaves and I had to take off the glasses to see the new buds. I stick to what others said and will wait until April to cut the stems back to that part that regrows.
My Hot Lips has lots of new shoots, growing in open soil in a border but a couple of new ones in pots, bought last year, have I think died, I am going to wait another month or two before binning them.
I can't stand hotlips myself but I have several customers that love them so I try not to kill them on purpose...I take cuttings to ensure replacement plants but so far most original plants look like they have survived....I still won't be cutting them back for a little while though.
@WonkyWomble Hot Lips wouldn't be top of my list either. There are so many to choose from guess it is popular because until last winter it had done so well. One of the biggest problems is what to plant it with. Good ideas appreciate anyone?
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I'm not keen on Hot Lips either @GardenerSuze and @WonkyWomble. It's the combination of the name and colour that puts me off! However, I tried the purple and white version last year, Amethyst Lips and have decided to let it remain this year, but will not be broadcasting the name to any visitors! I was very impressed with the length and profusion of flowering, the constant visits by bees and its drought tolerance. I also like the blackcurrant scent of the leaves. It goes well in combination with grasses, Verbena Bampton and as a foil for the lower stems of dahlias as they age and get a bit tatty.
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Part of the reason I love them is because of their tenacity, so don't make any decisions yet!
I ♥ my garden.
One of the biggest problems is what to plant it with. Good ideas appreciate anyone?