What would everyone recommend - do salvias need protection in winter? I have a Caradonna (established) and a Mainacht (only planted out about two months ago). We are in the south east.
I lost all my caradonna due to wet a few years ago, but wasn't too disappointed. Mainacht, Amistad and the shrubby salivas have come through the last 3-4 winters without any loss. I also grow S.Patens some of which survive the winter. I think it's prolonged wet around the roots that does for them. They don't seem to mind the Essex frosts
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Like most plants (unlike bog garden plants) they don't like their roots sitting in wet ground for any great length of time. It is the wet that can finish them off. I have heavy clay soil which needs as much organic matter to improve it that I can find.
Can I just say something in favour of Salvia Caradonna... this is the first year growing these for me... I got 2 plants from Knoll Gardens early August... they had both been cut right down for packing... I immediately divided each plant into 3, so I got 6 plants... I planted these and by late August they were in flower again... so it seems getting a good cut back, and dividing even, rejuvenates them and they rebloom.. ...just growing back from the divisions... ...rebloom... ..still flowering late Sept.. ..and one or two today...
..so overall so far I'm quite pleased with them... I was recommended them by someone in America whose garden I admired... I think they grow quite tall when established..
..the slight tender shrubby salvias like 'Blue Point' are still in flower in my garden... but a bit straggly looking.. I think I prefer the red ones of these..
What would everyone recommend - do salvias need protection in winter? I have a Caradonna (established) and a Mainacht (only planted out about two months ago). We are in the south east.
As with a lot of things, it depends on the winter we get. I leave the top growth on for protection and cut back in Spring. As @floralies said, it's the wet rather than the cold that gets them, but l find they're pretty tough, and if your soil is well drained, so much the better .
Thanks @AnniD sounds like they have a pretty good chance of overwintering here. The soil is extremely free draining, should it get extremely cold I can always just cover them with empty pots turned upside down. Still going to pick a cutting or two tomorrow I think.
Posts
Mainacht, Amistad and the shrubby salivas have come through the last 3-4 winters without any loss.
I also grow S.Patens some of which survive the winter.
I think it's prolonged wet around the roots that does for them.
They don't seem to mind the Essex frosts
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
...just growing back from the divisions...
...rebloom...
..still flowering late Sept..
..and one or two today...
..so overall so far I'm quite pleased with them... I was recommended them by someone in America whose garden I admired... I think they grow quite tall when established..
..the slight tender shrubby salvias like 'Blue Point' are still in flower in my garden... but a bit straggly looking.. I think I prefer the red ones of these..