Salvia ‘Lipstick’
Salvia ‘Lipstick’ is a bold and vibrant perennial salvia that lives up to its name with dazzling lipstick-pink flowers and a long flowering season that stretches from early summer to the first frosts. This eye-catching variety brings vivid colour, upright structure, and a reliable source of nectar to any sunny garden space. With its bushy habit and low-maintenance nature, ‘Lipstick’ is perfect for borders, containers, and pollinator-friendly planting schemes.
Key Features
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Botanical name: Salvia ‘Lipstick’
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Common name: Lipstick sage
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Plant type: Half-hardy herbaceous perennial
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Height: 60cm (2ft)
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Spread: 60cm (2ft)
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Flowering time: Early summer to late autumn (June to October)
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Bright pink, tubular flowers with subtle calyces and a lightly aromatic scent
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Bushy, upright habit with soft green foliage
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Low-maintenance: Deadhead to prolong flowering; cut back in early spring
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Hardiness: Hardy in the UK down to temperatures of -5 to -10 degrees Celcius (RHS hardiness rating H3–H4)
Growth & Habit
Salvia ‘Lipstick’ has a neat, upright habit that holds its shape well throughout the growing season. It forms a rounded clump of soft green foliage, above which rise multiple flower stems bearing bright pink, slightly translucent blooms. The display is continuous and long-lasting, particularly when regularly deadheaded, making it ideal for summer colour in any mixed border or patio container.
Planting Advice
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Position: Full sun is essential for strong flowering and healthy growth. Shelter from cold winds will extend the flowering season.
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Potted: Can be planted throughout the year in mild weather – avoid planting in frozen or waterlogged conditions.
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Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil is ideal. Avoid heavy clay or boggy areas.
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Planting Depth: Plant at the same depth as it was growing in the pot. Water in well after planting.
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Spacing: Space plants around 45–60cm apart to allow air flow and future growth.
Perfect for south- or west-facing gardens and borders with plenty of sun.
Care & Maintenance
‘Lipstick’ is a very easy-care perennial. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers and keep plants tidy. In autumn, protect with a mulch of bark or compost in milder regions. In colder areas, lift and overwinter indoors or grow in pots that can be sheltered during winter. Cut back old stems in early spring to make way for new growth. Water regularly during dry spells, especially in containers.
Uses in the Garden
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Ideal for bright, sunny borders or hot colour schemes
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Perfect for large containers on patios, balconies, or terraces
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A reliable and long-flowering addition to pollinator and wildlife gardens
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Combines well with ornamental grasses, rudbeckias, echinaceas, and other salvias
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Works in Mediterranean, cottage, or modern garden styles
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Useful for filling gaps and providing reliable, repeat colour
Salvia ‘Lipstick’ is a striking and dependable performer that brings a flash of vivid colour to the garden for months on end. Its easy-going nature and strong visual impact make it a must-have for gardeners who want reliable blooms, pollinator appeal, and bright summer borders. Whether in the ground or in a pot, ‘Lipstick’ is sure to make a statement.
Buying Perennials from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we lightly trim back our perennials after flowering and trim them back at the end of the season to ensure that the plants remain neat and tidy whilst in the pot. The more tender the plant the less we cut back to help protect exposed stems from winter frost. Depending on the plant variety we will then prune back further in spring once the risk of the more severe frosts is over.
As a result, depending on the time of year you buy perennials, they may not look like images showing their ‘prime time’ in flower and looking at their best.
From late autumn onwards and dependent on variety, there may be very little visible above the soil except for a few cut back dormant leaves or stems. It is perfectly normal for dormant plants to look like this from autumn onwards, they will however burst back into life in spring.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
Perennials are described and classified differently by different gardeners but all would agree that they are plants that come into flower every year from early spring to late summer, the exact time dependent on variety and most die back to ground level in autumn and winter.
As for all plants, soil preparation is time well spent. Dig over the area to be planted ensuring that the ground is free draining. If not then you may wish to either consider planting in a different spot or raising the level of the planting area by adding additional topsoil, well rotted garden compost and/or well rotted manure. Add ‘Fish, Blood and Bone’ fertiliser or a high potash fertiliser to encourage good root growth and development.
It’s always a good idea to plant a few of the same plant together, we recommend planting in 3’s or 5’s to provide a bold effect but allowing them plenty of room to develop.
Always check eventual plant heights when planning borders to ensure that the taller plants are at the back (or at the centre of an island bed) followed by the medium and then smaller low growing plants.
Remember to deadhead perennials after flowering, trim back lightly in autumn as required to tidy the border and if necessary trim again in spring once the risk of heavy frost has passed.
If perennials get too big, start to flower less and less or if it seems to be dying off from the centre, consider dividing the plant but always check that the particular variety is happy to be divided and that you divide at the right time of year for the plant.
By using this simple guide and a little time, perennials can make an absolutely spectacular difference to your garden.
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£6.99 | ||
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£9.99 |