Overwintering Salvia Patens "Patio Deep Blue"

I have two of these in our rose patch, planted this year, which show a beautiful colour. I had intended digging them up, and over-wintering in unheated conservatory or garage, as I used to do when growing dahilas. Only question was when, as differing advice said - a) do it before 1st frost, and b) wait till blackened by 1st frost. Got called away so we had the 1st touch of frost before I could decide, and they're now blackened. I dug up the one which had a stem cut off anyway, and expected to find a tuber, but found a normal typical perennial root system, nothing like a swollen root stem like a dahlia for instance. I've put it in a pot with some compost, rather than what I'd do with a tuber. I'm going to have to put it in the conservatory, along with the Salvias "Joy" and "Pink Mulberry" which I was told need to be protected in our winters.

Now I'm a little unsure of that having watched a YouTube video where he leaves his in the ground, and has been lucky so far. It's "My Walled Garden" which I believe is in Liverpool, which may be marginally milder than her in Milton Keynes but not much. I don't mind digging up the second one, as I could site them better to give more room between the roses, but it would be good to hear whether others leave these 3 types of salvia in the ground, and just mulch them, or take them out over winter?

Thank you.

 

True Salvia patent have tubers. Unfortunately there are many hybrids sold as S.patens so I would not want to guess as to the hardiness of this one. Pot up the one you've lifted and keep it frost free.

 

Salvia ( Dysons ) Joy should be hardy as long as it is big enough. I would say Pink Mulberry is borderline, winter wet being the biggest threat.

 

Thank you both. Salvia have never been my skill set so I didn't realise the variety available; totally different looking plants in the few I've now got. While I tend to buy only plants which I know suit my conditions - and that means no tender ones needing protection - I do end up being handed ones that looked lovely in the shop, or garden centre on holiday, and find out too late, in many cases like my Salvia with no warning about conditions required. The Joy and Pink Mulberry came in pots in late summer, too late to plant out anyway, so they're indoors for winter - unheated shaded conservatory; I'll keep moist. I'll locate carefully and take a view next year, particularly the Pink Mulberry, as winter wet is a huge issue in part of our garden, and as the Patio Deep Blue I've dug up looks fine, and I'm sure they are too big an eventual size to fit neatly between the roses we currently have, I'd have had to relocate them anway. My wife wanted Salvia as they "go well with roses". I wonder if this applies only to particular smaller types of salvia, and if so any suggestions for smaller ones would, again, be welcome.

 

As a general rule, salvias like full sun and good drainage, so I would suggest digging in some grit to help with any future plantings if your soil is heavy and prone to waterlogging.
Winter wet is more of a problem than frost, generally speaking. .

The salvia family is a big one, ranging from types such as Caradonna, to what I call " shrubby salvias". I grow a lot of these.
I'd suggest taking a look at a couple of websites, links below. Hopefully these will help .

Middleton Nurseries- Buy Hardy Salvias Online UK

Salvias - Buy from Norfolk Herbs

 

Thanks AnniD, Funnily enough I'd forgotten that we actually have 2 Caradonnas as well. I hadn't been thinking of them as I found they are apparently fully hardy, so I'm just leaving them in their pots outside till next year.

Front garden has full sun, and I've turned the clay into a manageable soil, so that would seem to be best location if I can fit them in. Drainage isn't amazing anywhere, but passable. It's at the bottom of our back garden that can get waterlogged, and it's mainly lawned and hedged.

 

When I've grown Salvia Patens, they have managed outside down here in the balmy south, but that is in pots under the shelter of the overhanging roof, so they stay fairly dry. I'd say they can cope to about -3 as long as they are not too wet. Any lower than that and I pop them in the garage overnight. Because they have no top growth in winter, they probably would be fine in a shed with no light till next March, but I have never tried that.