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Salvia Hot Lips

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Posts

  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    Hot Lips  and an unnamed pink, are the only Salvias that survived here, W Midlands, outdoors. Look awful but alive.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It's too early to tell which salvias have survived and which ones haven't here. Some have no green leaves left, but that doesn't mean anything.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I agree with @JennyJ … far too early to write plants off yet. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Woody salvia microphylla is generally thought to be hardier than those in the Greggii group. I grow some microphyllas but Salvia Mirage Cherry Red seems to be fine and that is from the Greggii group. I do cover them in cold weather I have some small plastic cloches. Think I will need them this weekend and into next week too.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited February 2023
    I have two S. gregii plants ... must be at least 8 years since I planted them in the westfacing bed in the front garden which is a bit of a frost pocket ... they've survived the Beast from the East and other cold snaps and I fully expect them to survive this winter too ... even if they look really scrubby at the moment ... 



    As I said earlier, I'll cut them back by two thirds in May ... when the worst frosts are over. 

    Excuse the saucer of water put out for the birds.  It all looks a bit scruffy, not just the salvias, but it'll look glorious in the summer. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Most of mine (various greggii and microphylla hybrid varieties) look much the same as @Dovefromabove 's. Lavender Dilly Dilly has good green growth showing, and so do some of the ones in containers against the house wall, but they'll all be left alone for probably another two months or so.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    With these borderline-hardy things, it really helps at this time of year if you're NOT Mr or Ms Tidy :D
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    I usually chop mine sometime in March - and I can't wait! 😄
  • bullfinchbullfinch Posts: 692
    I'm relieved to see your picture @Dovefromabove, mine look like that and I was a bit despondent, I thought maybe I had lost some of them. I don't remember them looking quite this bad before  :)
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Some salvias are quite tender ... in my experience Salvia gregii types are tough as old boots ... well, they are in this garden at least  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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