| None of those would be my first choices for perennial salvias for the PNW. 'Indigo Spires' is most often sold as an annual here - although reputedly cold hardy to zone 7, it simply won't tolerate our wet winters and is very difficult to get to winter over. Mexican sage, S.chamaedryoides, is a zone 9 plant and just not hardy. I've had moderately good luck with various greggii's in a very well draining situation - containers seem to work best for me. But there are many good, hardy perennial salvias for this area. All will want fast draining soil, with the exception of S. uliginosa or bog sage. Cultivars of S. nemerosa, verticilliata and x sylvestris all do well. Salvia guaranitica is a bit tender (again, the winter wet issue) but well worth growing anyway, especially 'Black and Blue' and 'Argentina Skies' - big, voluptuous plants in a single season and hundreds of flowers over a very long period - pretty much till frost. And I love many of the tender or annual salvias - tangerine, pineapple or honeydew sage (hummers adore them), the above mentioned 'Indigo Spires' and 'Victoria' and Salvia microphylla cultivars like 'Hot Lips', 'Lipstick' or 'Wild Watermelon'. Most local nurseries carry a good selection in season - look for them in late May/early June onward. |
