Hi
I can't really say that mine were "drought survivors" as they got two waterings a week. However, they impressed me at being able to stand over a week of 40oC+ temperatures in sandy soil.

The good thing about sandy soil is the roots can go to china and can find some coolness. Sometimes I am just amazed . I was where you are last August. I do feel for you. We had 45+ days above 38C or 100F. I am outside city water so I wasn't able to water always. I was amazed the salvias lived . Some did not bloom too well. My late bloomers started blooming later than normal.

I am in clay here but have city water (Still did not water)
the only plant I had a problem with was Salvia 'Stampede Lavender' most all of my salvias are in bloom execpt that one it is budded. Even some seedlings I planted out last fall bloomed. We have received some rain(still in a drought)
we had golfball size hail about three weeks ago they have bounced right back.
Hope things get better for you Andy.
Art

Thanks. It was heaps worse for the farmers of course. We're now getting cooler weather and the winter-flowering salvias are getting ready to put on a good show. I'm dithering about whether to try a corrugata again as in a previous garden it lived under a tree, got plenty of shade in the summer and rambled through other plants,but it wouldn't have the same here.
The best survivor of this summer has to be sagittata which is now looking fantastic. I have Betsy Clebtsch to thank for that - without her book I wouldn't have been brave enough to try that one!