Salvia Cherry Lips ('Dysceri') (PBR)
sage
Slender, airy stems carry a steady stream of small, lip-shaped flowers that are usually a striking mix of cherry red and white, though warm or cool spells can shift the balance to solid red or pure white for a changing display. Salvia ‘Cherry Lips’ forms a neat, bushy mound of aromatic green foliage, giving structure at the base while the flowers dance above from early summer right through to autumn.
Perfect for pots, gravel gardens or the front of a sunny border, it thrives in well-drained soil and a warm, sheltered spot. Easy-going and long-flowering, it’s a great choice if you want reliable colour with relatively modest maintenance, and it’s a real favourite with pollinators too. Just avoid overly wet conditions and give it a light trim now and then, during the growing season, to keep it fresh and full.
Perfect for pots, gravel gardens or the front of a sunny border, it thrives in well-drained soil and a warm, sheltered spot. Easy-going and long-flowering, it’s a great choice if you want reliable colour with relatively modest maintenance, and it’s a real favourite with pollinators too. Just avoid overly wet conditions and give it a light trim now and then, during the growing season, to keep it fresh and full.
How to care for Salvia Cherry Lips ('Dysceri') (PBR):
When planting, improve drainage by incorporating compost and adding horticultural grit or sand to heavier soils. Space plants 30-45cm (12-18in) apart and water thoroughly.
Deadhead spent flower spikes promptly to encourage continuous blooming. Apply a 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of composted bark or gravel in early spring to retain moisture and suppress weeds, but avoid manure-based mulches, which can be too rich.
Feed with a high-potash fertiliser, such as tomato feed, once growth resumes in spring to promote flowering. Water regularly during dry spells but ensure the soil remains well-drained to prevent root rot.
In colder regions, it may die back, so provide winter protection by applying a dry mulch around the base or lifting and potting up plants to overwinter in a frost-free location.
Deadhead spent flower spikes promptly to encourage continuous blooming. Apply a 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of composted bark or gravel in early spring to retain moisture and suppress weeds, but avoid manure-based mulches, which can be too rich.
Feed with a high-potash fertiliser, such as tomato feed, once growth resumes in spring to promote flowering. Water regularly during dry spells but ensure the soil remains well-drained to prevent root rot.
In colder regions, it may die back, so provide winter protection by applying a dry mulch around the base or lifting and potting up plants to overwinter in a frost-free location.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.9m
Eventual spread:
0.6m
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Borderline hardy (will need protection in winter in colder areas)
-
This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
