This is a favorite front of the border plant for me. It usually blooms with the iris so is early. Yes, it spreads but not invasively. Yes, it is hardy in your zone. i grew it in zone 3 in Minnesota with success. Shear dead flowers off and it will rebloom.

Thanks so much! I'll grab a couple plants tomorrow night after work!

I can't speak for the new S. nemerosa forms, but older ones like East Friesland do very well in zone 5 western Massachusetts. This is true for many more of the European alpine meadow sages, including S. jurisicii, S. pratensis, S. regeliana, S. virgata, etc.

I did grab a few plants on clearance (check your Lowes). I'm trying to root stem cuttings right now. So far so good with the salvia (May Nights).