Hot Lips Salvia

I am crazy for this plant and have used it in many of my clients gardens. However, My own plant has turned to all white flowers. I really miss the red lips it had when I bought it. A
ny idea why it has changed color? pH, fertilizer, etc.?

Hi,
Salvia "Hot Lips" shows the red and white colors best at cooler temperatures, eg below 90 or so. Don't worry, when fall comes (or a prolonged cooler spell, not likely for a while down there), you will see more consistent bicolored blooms.
I love this salvia too, it is vigorous and unique in its color combination.
Ernie

Yes, the flower color does change... mine varies from all white to all red depending on the weather. It's nothing you're doing (or not doing) so don't worry about it.

Ditto here on Hot Lips. It showed the magic red/white combination on flowers early/mid April; first 2 weeks of May were hot here and it started flowering all red. We've had a (relatvely) cool spell here for the past 2 weeks, and lo, the white has returned! Suspect it will disappear soon as we enter the real low country summer. But I suspect it will be a spectacular fall performer...and the red is pretty in and of itself.

Would anyone be interested in trading with me for a plant of HotLips? This plant seems pretty neat. Thanks. Pls feel free to view my trade list of my have list. Thanks.

rebecca30

Sounds like it's red for some of you when it's hot (which I had heard) and white when its hot for others. VERY INTERESTING!
Thanks!

Agree, hannelorep, it's very interesting! This is my first try at Hot Lips, and so far, I love it! But we've just had almost 2 weeks of searing heat/humidity, and the thing reverted to to the red/white flower color...go figure! The plant may have a will of it's own...

I have two different plantings of this plant and oddly enough I have noticed this same thing. I have one in literally full sun until almost 5 pm and the other gets shade from around 1pm throughout the rest of the day. The planting that is in the shady area has consistantly given up the white/red flower while the fun sun planting does what you folks describe. With the heat, it too goes full red while the other which is less than 15 feet away displays the bi-colored flower.

My hot lips has several combinations on one plant.Some flowers are all red,some are all white with a little red on the bottom and some are the bi-color that we all want.

Downscale: Same here. All possible combos on the same plant!
Deb