Botanical Name: Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’ Common Name: Autumn Sage, Hot Lips Salvia Hardiness Zone: Perennial in USDA Zones 7–10 (Grown as an Annual in Colder Climates) Size: 24–36" Tall × 24–36" Spread Growth Habit: Upright, Bushy, Well-Branched Habit Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade Soil: Well-Drained Soil; Adapts to Poor or Rocky Soils Water Needs: Low to Moderate; Drought Tolerant Once Established Bloom Season: Late Spring through Fall Fertilizer: Light Feeding in Spring; Avoid Excess Nitrogen Features: Red-and-White Bicolor Blooms, Heat & Drought Tolerant, Aromatic Foliage, Hummingbird Magnet Uses: Perennial Beds, Pollinator Gardens, Shrub Borders, Containers

Patent: ❌ Not Patented Propagation: ✔ Propagation Permitted

See our Salvia Plant Guide for more in depth care details on Salvia.

More About Salvia ‘Hot Lips’

Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ is a beloved classic known for its playful red-and-white bicolor flowers that appear in abundance from late spring through fall. The exact color pattern can vary with temperature—cooler weather often produces sharper bicolor blooms, while warmer conditions may lean more solid red, adding dynamic interest throughout the season. The plant forms a tidy, bushy shrub with aromatic foliage and excellent branching, making it both attractive and functional in the landscape. Once established, it tolerates heat and drought exceptionally well.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, ‘Hot Lips’ has been an extremely dependable pollinator plant, especially for hummingbirds, which visit constantly once flowering begins. It performs well in full sun, handles humidity, and keeps blooming long after many perennials fade. We especially appreciate its adaptability. It works beautifully in mixed perennial beds, pollinator gardens, and even large containers where its upright form provides structure.

Hot Lips vs. Other Salvia Varieties

Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ is defined by personality, with red-and-white blooms that shift with temperature and a shrubby, informal growth habit. Unlike uniform annual salvias such as Rockin’® Blue Suede Shoes™ or Purple & Bloom, it embraces irregularity, producing a plant that feels more natural and less engineered. Compared to taller hummingbird-focused salvias like Black & Blue, it stays shorter and denser, often forming a rounded, woody base over time. Its tender perennial nature places it closer to Wendy’s Wish than to true perennials like Lyrical™ White, though its structure is distinctly its own. Plants typically reach 30–36 inches tall, landing squarely between compact bedding types and towering spikes.

Hot Lips thrives on contrast. Its bicolor blooms stand out sharply against single-color salvias, making it an effective focal plant even when used sparingly. Compared to trailing forms like Bodacious® Hummingbird Falls, it provides upright structure rather than movement, anchoring beds and mixed borders. Pollinator activity—especially hummingbirds—is strong, though less overwhelming than the tallest varieties. For gardeners who want salvia with character, variation, and a slightly untamed feel, Hot Lips offers charm that more polished selections simply don’t.