Salvia Greggii ‘Lipstick’

Salvia greggii ‘Lipstick’

Characteristics

Culture

Grow Salvia Greggii ‘Lipstick’ in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Best in sandy or rocky soils with sharp drainage. Appreciates some part afternoon shade in hot summer climates. The pinkish coral red flowers are borne on racemes from spring to frost.  Its natural range is from south-central and west Texas south to San Luis Potosi in Mexico, mostly on rocky slopes. 

Trim or pinch tips continuously for nonstop blooming. In early spring, you may wish to prune Salvia Greggii ‘Lipstick’ a third to halfway back to produce thicker, more compact foliage and a shorter flowering plant. Pruning may delay flowering for several weeks, but it is important if you want to prevent leggy plants. On the other hand, if you want to encourage the plant to assume its maximum natural shape, however tall, only pick-prune.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Though generally cold tolerant, Salvia Greggii will be deciduous in regions with extremely cold winters, though some cultivars do well even in Oklahoma and Colorado, well outside of its natural range. Avoid planting it near heavy foot traffic because the stems are very brittle. They are drought tolerant but also tolerate wet spells if provided with adequate drainage. Salvia Greggii ‘Lipstick’ is delightful to use as a small, ornamental, flowering shrub in a perennial bed or as a low hedge.  

Specific epithet honors Josiah Gregg (1806-1850), botanist and explorer, who first collected this plant on a trip through Texas to Mexico in the mid-1840s

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for whiteflies and aphids.

Garden Uses

Salvia Greggii must have a well-drained site and cannot take shrink-swell clay soils. In clay soils, work in organic matter and amendments to improve drainage and, if possible, plant on a slope. Once established, should not be fertilized.  Borders, foundations.