Vibrantly coloured flowers top the upright stems of this aromatic perennial for several months from early summer. The foliage is a fresh green, and when crushed or brushed over, it emits a delicious minty smell. Fabulous for pots and containers, it will become drought tolerant once established.
How to care for Salvia greggii Lipstick:
To prolong flowering remove the flower spikes as soon as they start to fade. Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant in spring. Protect from excessive winter cold and wet.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.6m
Eventual spread:
0.6m
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Borderline hardy (will need protection in winter in colder areas)
-
This perennial is semi-evergreen so it can lose some of its leaves in winter. In colder regions or more exposed gardens, it may lose them all, but then fresh new growth appears again in spring.