I'm a 7 and some strains overwinter here, it's not uniform. My current well established one weathered a polar vortex of -17 as an abrupt (from being in 70s) overnight change. It did lose substantial branches, but came back strong this spring.

Protection from winter wet seems more important to me than temperatures. I do nothing other than siting.

Interesting. I have moderate clay but there is plenty of added compost so the site should drain well. I'll give it a try.

Yep, agreed - winter wet is the killer. All my garden is all containerised or raised beds. This cold and uncharacteristic winter resulted in the death of all my agapanthus, scented pelargoniums, dahlias and agave...my fault because of complacent and witless faffing. At some point, many of the bigger (less mobile) containers, become blocked by escaping roots (the acers were sitting in their own personal lake). Drilling holes all around the base saved the life of fuchsias, salvias and my lemon. as they avoided the freezy wet apocalypse.

I have successfully overwintered salvia black and blue for three years which is normally an annual in my zone. I had read that it's the wet that usually kills them. In fall I cut it to within 2-6" on ground, cover with leaves, and then put a black contractor trash bag over that weighted down with bricks so the winds don't blow it off. I have 6 plants that have come back every year.

As extra insurance, salvia greggii are the easiest plants to propagate. At this time of year, you will see roots within a week of taking a cutting. You can use a rooting hormone (I use Rhizopon green powder - the best I have ever come across)...but it honestly won' be necessary. A cutting taken now will make a sturdy little plant which can be overwintered somewhere cool and dry. No need to worry about the top growth as it will grow away from the base in spring. I cut my salvias back almost to the ground but they invariably resprout every year (although do be patient as, like hardy hibiscus, they are slow to show signs of life).

Taking a cutting is a great idea. I will also try to overwinter the actual plant (why not) but the cutting can hang out in my unheated mud room.

And here...my salvia greggii is persistent, evergreen, and woody.

@dbarron you are obviously at least one zone warmer than I am.

I stated I was z7. Though that's not solid. I grew up with 6a, then 6b, and now 7a rating. It really isn't about zone, as much as moisture and duration of cold period.

Lantana, crinums, and salvia greggii have been in cultivation (rare) here all my life.

@dbarron I would say it's both. Yes winter wet will definitely kill it, but if it gets too cold, the plant will die no matter how great your drainage is.

Although due to climate change, wintera are getting warmer here. We didn't get any snow last year and mostly, not that cold, which is bad for a lot of reasons.

" Taking a cutting is a great idea. " Taking a cutting will probably not be enough. Take as many as possible to account for inevitable losses over winter.

O, once you start on the cuttings lark, it rarely stops at one (looks dubiously a various filled trays with no actual spaces in mind)

I have a long shrub row that runs east and west with viburnums and other assorted shrubs fairly close together. I've planted salvia 'Black and Blue' and greggii that did well on the south side of that shrub row. It gives them some protection and maybe all the shrub roots help keep the soil from being too soggy in the winter. I have clayish soil but it's rocky.

I've noticed the Black and Blue still blooms even where it's spread back underneath my shrubs and doesn't get much sun at all. I don't mulch but I also don't clear away the leaves that fall there from the shrubs. Although, I think I mulched with straw the first year or two.

Of the greggiis I tried, I think I had the best luck with 'Cherry Queen' and it's a long bloomer too. I don't have it anymore but it came back for several years without protection.

cover with leaves, and then put a black contractor trash bag over that weighted down with bricks so the winds don't blow it off.

I saw this performed on a YouTube video awhile back...I think the salvia in question was Amistad.

rosaprimula, where do you purchase the Rhizopon from?