I'm in zone 6 and I don't see any of the hummer salvia as hardy. Most come from Central or South America. I have one which seems to be growing back from the roots this year. I think it is one of the greggi (sp?) types.

I buy new plants each year. They grow fast and it only takes about 10 plants to keep everyone happy.

I grow the salvia/sage that has the purple flowers. The hummers have visited that. The leaves are like massive clumps that look like some sort of vegetable leaves. I think the variety is May Night or something like that. If your talking about the annual red salvia, not sure, I just grow that as an annual here.

The only salvia that might be close to being hardy in zone 5/6 would be some of the S. greggii .

I am in zone 6 and have never had problems with my perennial salvia that are listed for zones 4 - 8. I have Salvia nemorosa and it has come back for 4 years now, stronger each year.

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/SABHS.html?id=wxmRFMNx

Ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link above

I am in zone 6 and my black and blue salvias have made it through 2 winters...but only the ones I planted on the south side up against my house.

I have never seen much hummer interest in the meadow sage types of salvia.