Salvia growth is this normal ?

I bought 5 plugs of Salvia Nemorosa , delivered on the 20th March. Is the growth pattern on the photo normal ? It has not put on much height and all the leaves seem to be congested around one point . Unlike the photo below , where you get leaves then stem then leaves etc . Mine looks more like a cabbage !

 

HarryS, I suspect it is growing in one of those hairnet plugs. In my experience they can cause plants to grow like that.
I would pot on and do so deeper

 

I did remove the hairnet from the plugs . Brookside have sent me replacement plugs which I am potting up this morning. I'll repot the originals as well . Then only time will tell if I have Salvias or cabbages

 

Ha ha, I admit I had to try and get a close up of your plants and leaves look salvia like but, hmm, cabbage like too esp the habit. I find Brookside good so you havent lost out.
Let us know how they develop

 

Thansk @Marley Farley , I have now repotted the salvias. Also I ordered a small bag of Mycorrhizal to try . Would you advise this for planting and replanting shrubs ?

 

Mycorrhizal is primarily for trees, shrubs and plants like heathers. Personally, I do use not for perennials
Those hairnet plug bags are a nuisance; growers need to take note that we consumers do not like them

 

Well 2 weeks has made a big change . The salvias have left the compacted stage and are now 6" tall and look very healthy . Planting them out in the next couple of days.

 

Yep, salvias are enjoying the warmer weather and responding well.
In the ground, my salvias have been slow to recover from the east from the beast but now making their mark.