Salvia - Amethyst Lips

‘Amethyst Lips’ is a confetti cannon disguised as a small shrub. Its two-lipped flowers play with color as temperatures change, appearing white, purple-violet, or crisply bicolored—often all on the same plant. Against the small, aromatic green leaves, the shifting pattern looks fresh and slightly mischievous from spring into fall, with especially generous flowering during mild weather.

This shrubby sage forms a rounded, branching plant about 2–3 feet tall and wide, large enough to make a cheerful statement but compact enough for a container, courtyard, or sunny border. It mingles beautifully with ornamental grasses, yarrows, penstemons, gaura, and silver-leaved Mediterranean plants. Hummingbirds and other pollinators find the tubular blooms just as irresistible as gardeners do.

Give it sun, good drainage, and moderate water while it becomes established. Mature plants tolerate dry spells, though occasional deep watering supports a longer show in very dry climates. Flowering can pause during extreme heat and return when conditions moderate. A light trim after a major bloom flush encourages dense new growth; avoid cutting hard into old, leafless wood. In colder or wetter regions, a warm protected position and excellent winter drainage matter more than extra fertilizer. Discover more aromatic, long-blooming hummingbird favorites in our Salvia collection.