Yup.
They are here, but especially the first year. I thought they were goners.
Some of mine came up 2 weeks ago but others haven't yet.
Dig carefully around the root-base and look for signs of life.
If not, they may have rotted over the winter. You guys have had a lot of rain this year and cooler temps.

With salvias, It is best not to cut them back till after the last freeze. The hollow stems lets moisture and rot get into the root mass if they are cut in the winter. It is also good to plant them early in the season. to get them well established before fall.

Thanks for the tip about the hollow stems; I never thought about that.

I think one or two of mine are returning, but haven't dug around them yet. I need to draw all the mulch back and let the soil dry up and warm. I think that would help.....then run out and cover for the next freeze!

Thanks for the info! I'll keep watching for them to appear. We had alot of rain on Saturday, maybe that will help them along.

My S. guarantica have not yet made an appearance, but I am in no way worried. Of all the salvias, they are the most hardy. Be patient...they'll be up in a week or two.

Ditto here from another NC gardener whose S. guaranitica Black and Blue has not shown up. It is rather later showing up and I have never had any issues with cutting them back in the fall and having them return since they actually form tubers that spread and don't seem to mind being cut back in the fall. Salvia leucantha is another story since it tends to be more suspectible to rotting out if you cut them back in the fall. That has been my experience anyways.

Yup. Black and Blue makes tubers.
I never mulch any of my salvias except when I divide them and that is just enough spread around them to keep their leaves up out of the dirt until they get established. Then, out comes the mulch.

blondiesc, I'm about in your same zone close to 8a. I am just seeing my B&Bs after the last rain. Something I noticed about these plants is that they will spread quite a long distance from the original plant...up to 3 feet! That was a surprise for me. It's such a fabulous Salvia, isn't it?

Pam

I am finding new B&B salvia foliage popping out a few inches from the base of the mother plant... they always appear this way in my garden. Three of the plants in my warmer micro-climate section of my cottage garden are green. Still waiting on the B&Bs in the outer garden.

Cameron