Naomi, the Black and Blue does best in filtered sun for me. Most salvias do well in part shade. I have many different types, but most seem to like shade. Ferilizer and water help, of course--as does deadheading.

I've tried three varieties of salvias, although the comparisons are unfair.

In ground and in pots I've had regular garden sage (Salvia officinalis) as well as purple sage, which is the same species. They perform well for a year or two and then decline. But that is what they do.

I've had good success with Grape-Scented Sage (Salvia melissodora). This one gets to be a large bush, and can take sun and drought in stride. The flowers smell just like grape candy. Here's a pic...

The culinary sage I now grow just as an annual and buy it again in the fall. For me, it doesn't make through the heat of the summer even in some shade.

I have had better luck with black and blue this year, but it gets only some morning sun. ;o)

My victoria blue salvia is a proven winner, and can come up again from seeds the next year. Mexican Sage dies down in the winter here, but it comes up very quickly and grows like a weed!

I don't have much luck with guaranitica. I moved mine to the shade garden under the oak tree, so I wouldn't accidentally dig it up when it was dormant (like I did the first one), and it came up, but is very small, and doesn't seem to want to grow. I keep hoping...

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess I just need to try to find a shadier spot for them and see what they think next year. I've read numerous times that most salvias love it hot and dry and I'm guessing that's the kind of hot and dry in like zone 7? LOL Not sure. I have seeds for s. coccinea (brenthurst) that I bought from Onalee's Seeds last month that I'm also going to try in the spring. Thanks for all the feedback. :-)

Naomi

Easy ones for me are- limelight, hot lips-though the color can be unstable, coral nymph. I have actually been very pleased with most of my salvias. I wish I had more.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pictures of some of my salvia