I will let Rich DuFresne answer being in North Carolina
I plant Salvia Greggii,Microphylla,Lycoides hybrids,
but Salvia leucantha and some of the more tender species
I will protect during winter just to establish a good root system.Depends on what Salvia's your looking at planting.
Art

nemorosa

I have 'Marcus', 'Rose Queen' and 'Caradonna' that I'd like to move around in my garden.

guaranitica 'Black & Blue'

I usually only plant this in spring, but I've seen this available at local nurseries right now and I'd like to have more.

I also have several divisions from the spring that need to be moved sometime to get more sun as they are being overshadowed by the mother plants.

As for greggii, I have moved 1 of my 7 around so much this summer and it just keeps on blooming! I've never seen such robust plants!

Thanks

You can indeed plant in the autumn. September is a good time, once the heat has started to recede.
plant broad leaved species earlier.

I hope you have good garden soil. Good, solid growth of the root system is what is most critical. Sand ans sometimes crushed rock will help. What you don't want is frost heaving, which is more of a problem in colder climates.

I'd rather ask than lose the salvia! Thank you so much for your responses.

Yes, I have great garden soil. I had 3 double dump trucks brought in from JV Brockwell in Calvander when I created my gardens in 2006-7. It's full of earthworms and is on a slope with good drainage. My garden has east-west and southern sun exposure. My greggiis are evergreen in the winter.

95% of this section of garden was planted in spring/early summer of 2007, then we had a drought. Photo taken July 14, 2008:

{{gwi:22175}}