My Salvia reptans West Texas form has survived . There is lots of new growth sprouting around the lower part of the plant. I will wait a little longer before pulling all the mulch away and cutting the old stems back as we are still going to have a couple of nights this week in the mid to high 30's.

Even as brutally cold and long as this winter has been, it survived so this is another salvia for colder zone 6 gardeners. Even though it doesn't bloom until late summer, it does have very interesting airy foilage especially if you like the ornamental grass look but don't want the invasiveness of the grasses and it does have the added bonus of tiny blue flowers scattered all over the wispy stems. High Country gardens calls it West Texas Grass Sage which seems appropriate. I purchased my plant last year from Rich Dufresne at a World of Salvias for anyone that is interested in it http://www.eclectasy.com/gallery_of_salvias/

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Penny,

That's wonderful!!!
I put this plant on a list for next year additions. We definately would like to our garden hardy survivors. I'm only in my 2nd year of serious gardening and I'm already tired of replacing plants that didn't make it...
I know it's all a part of "gardening"...

Susan Louise
from Branford CT/ live in Lincoln NE
Zone 5

Penny, that's wonderful to hear. We did get our Salvia reptans to come back in our protected area last year. The jury is still out for this year on this plant as we are one zone colder than you and it's been colder than normal here this spring.

We've never seen a hummer use this plant, but it's very interesting to grow.

It is one of the few plants that we've purchased from High Country Gardens to survive for us here in Wisconsin.



Kathi and Michael Rock
Madison, Wisconsin
Zone 4/5

Kathi
I did see it used last year. It didn't get as much use as my Cherry Chief greggiis or the B^B or cuphea but it got enough use that I was able to collect quite a bit of seed and have 10 tiny little seedlings growing now. It also filled in a corner of the front bed that needed something tall and airy so it really worked out well in that respect too.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

My two Salvia reptans plants have survived 4 winters here in my Zone 6b garden, too. I had to move it last spring since it wasn't getting enough sun to bloom where I had it the two previous growing seasons. After I moved it last spring, it finally bloomed last fall with the prettiest cobalt blue flowers. I hope after growing a second year in its new spot it will put on a more impressive floral display. I noticed yesterday it has green shoots at the base.

Jeff

I mentioned this to Penny in another thread. Found green at the base of mine last Saturday. Going on 3rd year & survived a tough winter!!

Joni
Elwood, IL
Zone 5

This really was a tough winter and I would consider it a real test on the survival of the plants for a lot of us. Granted a lot of my marginal plants are in an area that stays mostly dry, dains well and is facing south. I wish my whole yard had these conditions. My reptans is loaded with all new growth now and doing very well.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Penny, forgive me for teasing, but it struck me as an oxymoron when you spoke of temps in the high 30's! There's nothing very "high" about any temp. in the 30's....lol. I have to tell you, I'm SO glad to see overnight lows finally staying above 40 F.

Patrick
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place

Patrick
At this point if it is above 32 degrees it is HIGH lol! We still may have one or two more nights around 38 degrees but for the most part they are in the 40-50 range now.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

I have to agree, any night temp in the (high) 30's is a treat here! I have taken all of my w/s babies that have sprouted and put them in a makeshift cold frame to maybe give them a jump start! I needed the blanket bags for new stuff! I've got 99 pots going and still have the less hardy annuals to go yet!

Keep saving those seeds, woman! People like me love them! I can't wait to see what the ones you sent do... I w/s them yesterday, but kept a few seeds back, just in case!

I've been raking and cleaning dead grass, branches and pine needles up today and I'm sore and tired already and it's not even 1:00 yet! Think I'll take the afternoon off and go see what plants Walmart has just in case they have something to help my hummingbird til mine get big enough to plant out! S'posed to snow and thunder tomorrow and Sat.

glo
Zone 5 8500 ft up the Mountain in Colorado!

Glo
I did yesterday what your are doing today and boy was I tired and sore by the end of the day. Today I hit Walmart, Lowes and 2 local garden centers and came home completely empty handed. Hope that you have better luck.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39