Salvia × jamensis ‘Hot Lips’

‘Hot Lips’ is one of the most well-loved modern salvias. Through summer and into autumn, the plant is covered in bicolour tubular flowers, usually red with a white lower lip, though the colour balance shifts with temperature, giving you all-red, all-white, and every mix in between on the same plant.

Compact bushy evergreen shrub to around 60 to 90cm tall and wide, with small aromatic green leaves. Drought-tolerant, loved by bees and butterflies.

Plant in well-drained soil in full sun. Hardy in milder UK gardens but appreciates a sheltered spot and sharp drainage, especially in winter. Trim lightly in spring to remove any winter damage.

A firm favourite for a sunny border, a gravel garden, a patio pot, or a pollinator-focused scheme.