They're annuals for both of us (I'm technically zone 7A) and they hate temperatures under 25 degrees. I do read reports of S. farinacea surviving easy winters, or with plenty of mulch, but it's never happened to me even in my warmer southern face garden.

Some people overwinter by lifting, drying a bit, and storing, but I've never tried that. I collect seed from mine (I already started this year) and start them indoors under lights in March.

You can also dig up a plant, or plants, pot them, and put them at a sunny windowsill for the winter. Growth and blooming are spotty, but they'll survive and can be transplanted back into the garden once frost is past next spring.

On the up side, a few volunteers are possible in many of our gardens--several salvia, both S. splendens and S. farinacea, sprouted randomly in my garden.

S coccinea also reseeds well and puts on a good show in the late summer/fall.
Darn, I wish more salvias were hardy to zone 6.

>>Darn, I wish more salvias were hardy to zone 6.

I hear you on that one! I start a full flat of S. splendens (scarlet) and another one of S. farinacea (Rhea, blue) every year. It would be nice to park 'em and forget about 'em. :-)

I attached the link to my blog, the second post down has my August garden photos. The red salvia is unbelievably dominant again this year and I love it!

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Photos

Yes, your red spikes are the eye catcher in every shot.

Some of the 6 year old farinacea survived temperatures to zero last winter some didn't. Mine grow in a very dry area which probably helps in their survival

I am going to try to cover them with hay? Morpheus very nice blog.