| Sure I may have mentioned this before, but as far as I know I was responsible for introducing 'Hot Lips' into the UK, a few years ago. I was allowed to collect seeds from a large clump at Cabrillo, never thinking that they would come true. But some did, and Hot Lips is now available in the UK. (To be correct it should be called x Hot Lips.) This has never, ever set seed in the UK, unlike most microphylla cultivars. I do wonder why this seems to be sterile. Amazing new bi-coloured cultivars are always possible. Hot Lips here behaves like everywhere else...red and white in spring, pure white (occasionally red) in summer, then bi-coloured in autumn. Weird, but delightful! Another seedling from the Cabrillo plants was quite different, twice as vigorous, shiny leaves, red stems, red flowers, which I have cheekily named 'Robin's Pride'. Seems to be almost identical to S. microphylla 'Huntington' in the USA. This can grow to 6 ft tall....striking, not invasive, but somewhat thuggish! Robin. |
