Yvonne's salvia is a larger version of the annual salvia splendens. I'm in zone 7b and find that a little afternoon shade through the hot part of the day won't hurt, but be sure to give it lots of morning or late day sun.

I started mine indoors like she did and they're over 8" tall already.

Salvia splendens is a tropical annual native to Brazil. It should grow just fine in your climate. We have short summers here and it grew fine here too (although a bit slow to get going).

The Floridata website says this about it -

"Light: In cooler climates, plant in full sun. In areas with very hot summers, partial shade, especially in the afternoon, reduces stress."

Here is a link that might be useful: Floridata: Salvia splendens

Thanks terrene. As I recall, she simply saved seeds from the largest plants for the next year. I'll be doing the same.

Token I am very jealous that yours are 8 inches tall already. I haven't even sown them yet!

Yes, I think Yvonne developed her own cultivar of a tall Salvia splendens. Just as the short bedding plants were cultivated to be short. How fun! :)

My Yvonnes grew 3-4 feet tall and they even had some afternoon shade from the humongus Mammoth Sunflowers that grew 10-11 feet tall in the next bed. That wasn't really planned and it wasn't a great idea, letting those sunflowers (which were self-sown) grow in the middle of a sunny area, but I didn't think about it. This year, the Mammoth sunflowers are going in a sunny corner at the back of a tall bed (where everything's going to be 3-10 feet tall).

I plan to put mine where they will get lots of sun until about 1pm and some more around 6 until dark. It's the same bed I had the purchased plants in last year.

Yvonne's salvia in the middle of the pic.

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I am in Zone 6, but borderline 5. I did not get seed from my salvia last year. The flowers did not have enough time to set. I hope this year I will get some seeds!