Ants are usually after aphids. Do you see any aphids on it?

No. I haven't seen any on it. I do have aphids on some milkweed, but it is in the backyard and far away from the salvia. I squirted the whole plant with water today.... under leaves and everything.... still looking scrawny.I hope I am not over watering it..... but somehow I have to get the insects off of it - at least until it starts putting out new growth and can handle some insects....

Jay, I love the guaraniticas. I'm going to buy one this year if it kills me! LOL They are rather expensive, and I keep looking at Lowe's markdown rack, but no luck so far. It's one plant I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and pay full price for. I had one at my old house, and it came back bigger and more beautiful every year. I hear 'Amistad' is even better thatn 'Black and Blue," which is what I had.

I love my Amistad Salvia. It blooms till frost, no disease, no issues whatsoever and the bees, butterflies, hummers love it. The black and Blue is pretty but it dies back here much earlier than the Amistad. The "wish" series do really good for me as well.

Dirtygardener go for it they are great! Amistad roots incredibly easy from cuttings too and is the most vigorous form I've grown (it is a sterile hybrid so all that energy goes to constant flowers) def needs stakes though as it is quite floppy and tall which is why my picture is a crop... I'm a bit too lax and have yet to get it proper stake despite having them in that spot for 8 years lol (it's the backyard ok..). I rarely see Amistad for sale if you can't find it I trust Almost Eden though paying shipping is never fun. Put it near a window for prime hummingbird action

(I've grown both Black and Blue and Black and Bloom too and they are great but Amistad definitely flowers more)

Thanks, Jay. I'm going to find one this next year for sure.