This is a beautiful selection of Salvia microphylla, 'discovered' by Richard Turner of California, the editor of Pacific Horticulture, after the plant was shared with him by his maid, who brought it from her home in Oaxaca Mexico. 'Hot Lips' has bicolor flowers, with red and white lips. The flowers will vary widely from bloom to bloom, even on the same branch, with some flowers being pure white, some pure red, and some everything in between. Every branch is somewhat unstable in its color expression, but most flowers are decidedly bicolored. It makes for a very fun plant.
It grows much like a microphylla, upright to 3 feet, then somewhat rambling, with draping branches. It is fine with heavy pruning and hot dry conditions, blooming very well in full hot sun. Give good drainage and maintain dry conditions.