Salvia Hot Lips

Daveembery

Hello please can you help?
My Salvia Hot Lips is very woody and doesn’t seem to be doing very much there are a few new shoots but not many every year it’s been a great showier in my garden I’ve had the plant for about 5 years and I prune it back every Apr taking the plant to about 60cm which is roughly a third off. Is it still early for this plant? 

Borderline

Might be best to take a photo so it's easier to advise. Based on what you have said, it does sound like you have not been cutting back low enough. This one in particular is hardier and tougher and normally generates well even if you prune into the tough woody stems. 

Having said that, they will get tired by 5 years, so this is a good time to take some cuttings. By next year, your cuttings will be strong enough to be planted out and able to be a good replacements.

Braidman

My big old plant is just starting to spring to life, smaller younger plants in pots are in flower, though only pure red flowers so far.

strelitzia32

It won't help you much, but my hotlips is in full flower with bicolor flowers as expected. I kept it in a greenhouse over winter and cut back about a third all over in April, it's outside now and flowering. Deadheading is a pain because of the way it grows, so I just give it a haircut all over every now and then.