I have a question. This is my 2nd year gardening. My garden performed great last year but I'm not getting as many perennials back as I was expecting. My salvia greggii and mexican bush sage for example. I cut everything way back after the weather turned cold and covered the bed in hay to keep all the roots warm. Many things are growing from the base up but there is no sign of those anywhere. Did I do something wrong or am I being impatient and they'll come up. My salvia greggii in the greenhouse is going crazy but no sign of a single sprout in the bed. I'm confused.... =)
Perrenials not coming back...
Some Salvia gregii are more tender than others. I have found that the purple and lavender colors are not as hardy as the red and pink. I had two small purple ones that died last winter.
I think that since it got quite cold and you did cut them way back and covered them, it might be taking a little longer for the soil to warm up and the new shoots to emerge.
Give them a little more time, it is not too late.
As for the Mexican sage I am not really familiar with it, but I imagine it ia about the same.
Josephine.
I have mexican bush sage. One has come back well. The other is struggling, but showing signs of life. I am still waiting for my plumbago to show signs of life. I'd say give the plants another thirty days (I know this is difficult to do)
I am concerned about the two deep freezes we had this year (haven't had those in a while). I love this mild spring that we are having, but it may result in some late perennial rebound.
I don't cut my Salvia greggii back in the winter, and they usually act like an evergreen. But it's only been in the past week or so that I've seen signs of vigorous new growth on them. My Lantana and Mexican Firebush, which I do cut back and cover with mulch, are still showing no signs of life. I can't believe that all 6 Lantana and 3 MF could have died over the winter, but I'm getting a wee bit impatient to see *something* from them. Spring has sprung, you silly plants, it's time to wake up!
Carla
I am sure the Lantana will come back, I have never seen it fail in the many years that I have been gardening. I don't know about the Firebush, but Lantana and Turk's cap are very hardy.
Josephine.
One of my lantanas is coming back like crazy. The other 4 are just now showing life. I'll keep watching on the others. I tried so hard to keep them warm this winter. I'm sure glad I had about 4 inches of hay on the bed or they really would have gotten cold!!
It was really depressing counting everything that was done-in from this cold winter we had. But in the last few weeks there have been some wonderful surprises, seeing some of those plants absolutely determined to come back! My Spring garden will not be what it was last year, but it is growing, and it is blooming, and that is enough for me. It's hope for the future, and an opportunity to make a few changes in places I would not have disturbed before. It's still gonna be a fun gardening year!
:-)
I'm in Arlington, TX (DFW area), and am overrun with Salvias (greggii, mexicana, cordifolia, pratensis, azurea, madrensis, guaranitica of various kinds, "Indigo Spires", etc.). Mexican Bush Sage (S. leucantha) is a weed -- even ones that I've dug up come back from root fragments. I've stopped mulching them since they don't need it and I'd really like to get rid of some, so if anyone in the area wants any leucantha, just ask.
The salvias that I like I CAN'T get through winter outside include sinaloensis, discolor, and confertifolia. I especially like sinaloesis, but it seems very tempermental so would appreciate any advice. It seems like it should be perennial, but no luck so far.
Tropical salvias are slow to emerge, in my experience, so I'd wait to see if they come back. Re: Lantana -- we have tons of all colors, but they appear late too. Ours aren't up yet, but I have no doubt that they will be soon. We have to cut them back later in the season or they smother everything.
A very nice, very perennial plant that you don't see that often is the "tropical" Odontonema ("firespike"-- blooms in fall). We got ours about 10 years ago from Blue Moon Gardens, near Tyler. It's really easy to start from cuttings, so again, if anyone in the area wants some I can share.
Everyone's garden is different, and things that we can grow here don't do well a couple of miles away (and vice-versa). We're fairly plugged in with the Arlington gardening scene but love to share and experiment so would be really happy to trade with people in the area. We're totally organic too, and I think that helps with some of the supposedly "difficult" plants (warm soil, fewer pests, less stress on the plants and beneficial insects etc.).