I've never seen S. daghestanica do that well east of the Mississippi. Where are you located? USDA zone 7 would place you most likely in the subtropical states, and it's been my experience that alpines do really poorly here.

Have you tried layering these stems? When flowering stems resume growth, there is a long vascular system for nutrients and sugars to travel, and that growth is weak.

The best time to propagate most plants is to take cuttings from plants that are growing robustly. Not only are conditions better, the plant's own growth hormones are at peak activity. Even if you layer these foliar tip growths, they may take a few months to root and form new plants.

This approach may be possible, because this plant does like to grow in stone outcrops in the Caucasus ranges, where such a stem might find itself windblown into a crack.

I learn so much reading all the responses on this forum. Thanks.

Not to mention finding out about all the Salvias I don't yet have. Sigh!

Thanks, Rich, I'll try layering again to see if that works. It hasn't in the past, but who knows, maybe this time the conditions will be right for it!

Salvia daghestanica is pretty easy here in New Mexico.

Success with layering may well depend on time of the year, along with weather and your microclimate. As you go into autumn, more vigorous growth will resume, and that will probably be your best chance.

Salvias that form basal rosettes tend to have deep roots and funnel all of their vascular system through tap roots. Do not attempt division unless you find axillary growth with their own moderate root systems that can be detached from the main trunk. Fine stone mulch at the base will admit air and stimulate the formation of shoots that can be separated. You will have to experiment. Each species is different.

Salvia nemerosa (sylvestris, superba) are the easiest to divide when mature, since they send out an abundance of shoots at their base.