skip to main content

My savlia Greggi red turned out to be Hot Lips...

9 years ago

In January I bought some 5 gallon salvias- I specifically asked for the red... well they weren't blooming yet, except for a single bud on one of the plants , which was red of course.
Now that they are all in full bloom I have discovered they are Hot lips! I did not want hot lips...
Is the growth habit the same as the Red? It seems as though the flowers themselves are smaller and the plant is more upright? It certainly is hardy!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

CA Kate z9
9 years ago
If you bought them from a reputable dealer you could dig them up and return them for either a refund or new plants. Such a disappointment for you!
rich_dufresne
9 years ago
Straight greggii forms that are true red include Furman's Red and Keter's Red. Most of the new greggiis and microphyllas that are currently being offered are actually hybrids of the two species. Greggiis hav long, narrow leaves with smooth margins. Microphyllas have deltoid or heart shaped leaves with toothed margins.
Related Discussions
My Lips Are Numb! Billy Goat Peach
Q
Comments (5)
Let me tell you something - I'm not done trying different peppers this year but this one topped the list for heat. I had one last year (maybe anaheim chilli) which was the talk of the town because it was so dam hot. I think they need to try this one. lol Where did you find the Billy Goat Peach?
...See More
Places in DFW area to get s. greggi?
Q
Comments (11)
Leaves of true Salvia greggii and some of its hybrids are linear (strap like), with a slight bulge in the middle. Thw tips are usually rounded. Those that come to a point may have microphylla in them. This is the case with `Raspberry Royale', which is a cross between S. greggii `Alba' from Carroll Abbott's Green Horizons and a S. lemmonii (more accurately S. microphylla var. wislizenii - this form also has similar leaves). The leaf margin is smooth or has tiny teeth, especially in the hybrids. The leaf surface is smooth, often glossy. Salvia microphylla leaves are almost as wide as they are long, delta or heart shaped, with obvious teeth, and often hairy. There is a lot of variation in size, and most forms are usually larger than greggii. Flower color is usually pure red or fuchsia, with occasional white forms and lighter fuchsia (rose pink) forms and light red forms. Some of the red forms have a little orange tint to them. This range is true for both species. Where the yellow to orange forms get their color is a bit of a mystery. I don't think anyone can claim with assurance that these variants come from either S. greggii or S. microphylla or an as yet unknown third species. DNA work will be required.
...See More
Can't say enough good things about Hot Lips
Q
Comments (22)
I tried a different planting method with Orange Door last year. In the spring of 2007 it appeared that the row had died, but when I dug the plants out a few shoots were found deep down, about 6 or more inches. So when the row was replanted the new plants were set 6 or more inches deep. It could be done because the sandy soil in the row is very free draining. Who knows if it will work, but it is worth a try. Steven, I like Orange Door for the reasons Richard mentions. Plus for some reason I don't quite understand, women are attracted to it. Whatever color it is, some sort of pink, it has very vivid flowers, they absolutely glow. I don't know what is the problem with Wild Watermelon. While it is among the oldest microphylla in the garden, it has never thrived for me. For the past 10 years or so it has returned each year but performed poorly. I should move it away from the San Carlos Festival patch with which it can't seem to compete.
...See More
Pink Greggis in Summer
Q
Comments (14)
I need to go see Chip. The Nursery is open 6 days a week. The Raspberry that Picklypear is talking about is grown by Colorspot Nurseries and is mislabeled. Theirs is burgandy in color and the true Raspberry Ripple is more in the violet blue range.Raspberry Ripple is a wild collected form from Mexico and likes it drier than this Burgandy Form . I need to do some research into what plant Colorspot is currently Marketing as Raspberry Ripple. It is not a good plant unless you growit in a pot very compact but flowering is pathetic. Mine is flowering the best it has flowered since being planted a year ago. I put it in with the seedlings of Raspberry Ripple. Art
...See More
lisaslists2000
9 years ago
Where are you that you found them to be very hardy? I am in Charlotte (zone 7b?) and I tend not to expect them back the next year... I have others. I have greggi, indigo spires and herb salvias. Just wondering. :-)
rich_dufresne
8 years ago
I used to live in southern Guilford County (Greensboro), and many of the red to fuchsia greggii, microphylla, and their hybrid species were hardy. Now the nasty Februarys need to be figured into the equation.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years ago
I have had 'Hot Lips' in my garden going on 5 years. It has developed into a sizable shrub about 4 feet across and nearly as tall although I do prune it back pretty hard each spring. I do live in a relatively mild beachside climate but we are exposed to the occasional Arctic blast once or twice each winter. It hit the low 20's for a few days last November with no ill effect on the salvia.

Hot Lips starts out with pure red flowers, so easy to see how the OP was misled. Then the bicolor flowers appear for most of the summer, becoming pure white flowers in late season. The hummingbirds don't seem to care what color the flowers are - they continue to visit it daily until it stops flowering in late October.

Related Stories

COLOR Color of the Week: Tulip Red

By Jennifer Ott Design

Add a burst of bright color to your home with this pretty floral hue

COLOR How Merlot Can You Go? 8 Enticing Ways With Wine-Inspired Hues

By Jennifer Ott Design

Add warmth and drama to your home with these deepest shades of red

DIY PROJECTS Dining Set Makeover: Paint and Tea-Tinted Fabric Make Old Chairs New

By Sarah Greenman

Reclaim dated dining chairs for far less than buying new, using spray paint, modern fabric and a handful of tea bags

KITCHEN DESIGN Standouts From the 2014 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show

By Ventana Construction LLC

Check out the latest and greatest in sinks, ovens, countertop materials and more

GARDENING GUIDES New Ways to Think About All That Mulch in the Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Before you go making a mountain out of a mulch hill, learn the facts about what your plants and soil really want

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES A Quick-Start Guide to Bird-Watching for Fun and Learning

By Alison Hodgson

Set out some seed and grab your field guide. Bird-watching is an easy, entertaining and educational activity for the whole family

DIY PROJECTS 17 Ways to Decorate With Everyday Things

By Becky Harris

Characters on the new Netflix series 'Orange Is the New Black' make the most of what they have. Here's how you can too

BATHROOM DESIGN 3 Fresh and Fun Bathrooms Just Right for Teenage Girls

By Becky Harris

These new and remodeled spaces designed for pairs of sisters are brimming with personality and style

LIFE The Top 5 Ways to Save Water at Home

Get on the fast track to preserving a valuable resource and saving money too with these smart, effective strategies

HOUSEKEEPING Another Independence Day: When Kids Can Do Their Laundry

By Alison Hodgson

Set yourself free and give your child a valuable life skill at the same time

Sponsored

More Discussions

tips for germinating old salvia seeds?

1