Pest identification
What's eating my salvia 'hot lips'?
Aphids
Signs: Clusters on tender shoot tips and flower buds in spring; honeydew residue and slight distortion of new growth.
Control: Knock off with a strong water spray. Insecticidal soap deals with stubborn colonies. Parasitic wasps and ladybirds naturally regulate populations in most gardens.
Spider mites
Signs: Pale, stippled leaves with very fine webbing on undersides during hot, dry weather.
Control: Ensure adequate watering during drought. Spray leaf undersides with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days until the infestation clears.
Leafhoppers
Signs: Widespread pale stippling on leaves; adults jump when foliage is touched; heavy infestations cause general leaf yellowing.
Control: Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray on leaf undersides in the morning. Reduce nearby weedy cover where leafhoppers breed.
Keep salvia 'hot lips' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Salvia 'Hot Lips' pests — FAQ
What is eating my salvia 'hot lips'?
Salvia 'Hot Lips' is naturally deer- and rabbit-resistant due to its aromatic foliage. Aphids are the most likely visitor in spring on young growth, and spider mites may appear during drought. In warm southern gardens it is effectively a shrub; healthy, established plants shrug off pest pressure with minimal intervention needed.
How do I get rid of aphids on salvia 'hot lips'?
Clusters on tender shoot tips and flower buds in spring; honeydew residue and slight distortion of new growth. Knock off with a strong water spray. Insecticidal soap deals with stubborn colonies. Parasitic wasps and ladybirds naturally regulate populations in most gardens.
How do I get rid of spider mites on salvia 'hot lips'?
Pale, stippled leaves with very fine webbing on undersides during hot, dry weather. Ensure adequate watering during drought. Spray leaf undersides with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days until the infestation clears.
How do I get rid of leafhoppers on salvia 'hot lips'?
Widespread pale stippling on leaves; adults jump when foliage is touched; heavy infestations cause general leaf yellowing. Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray on leaf undersides in the morning. Reduce nearby weedy cover where leafhoppers breed.