Does anyone know of a 3-4 height foot tubular blooming, perennial salvia that grows in lower zone 8
humid, part aft shade..morning sun only..

I have Blue ensign and love it..and Black and blue and like it

I have two toned microphylla in pink which does not like the heat here
and really does better in late fall for me..looks green and healthier..

I like the long tubular blooms..and like spring to fall blooming
that is asking a lot, right? LOL

I glanced at Cherry Chief which appears to be tubular blooms and 3 or 4 foot height
is it?

Thanks Sheri in alabama

Sheri, you could try "Hot Lips". It did well for me until we had 15in. of rain in 3 days, then it got a little too soggy and I lost it to root rot. If you have good morning sun and great drainage, it will do great for you. In the South, most salvias really only last about 3 years total anyway, so take cuttings of the ones you like and that grow well for you.

thank you Elaine!
Sheri

Sheri,
Hot Lips will do fine in the heat if you have it in a well draining spot. Mine is in a Full Sun location, sandy basically unimproved soil...( just mulch that has weed cloth under it.) I never water it unless we have gone a long spell without rain. See pic below.
You might also try "Forest Fire", as well. It doesn't get quite to the 4 ft. height but will top out around 3 ft. Plus a bonus is it set's seed.

Salvia miniata can get to over 6 ft.

Others you might try are Purple Majesty, which here can get 4-5 ft, but does appreciate some afternoon shade.

Sorry I don't have a pic of Salvia Forest Fire but you can google it.

Pics below Salvia Hot Lipx


Salvia minata - Plant and close up of bloom



Salvia Purple Majesty

Purple majesty is my type of salvia long tubular bloom
thanks for all hints...to help me..

Hot lips is gorgeous but did not do well here for me years ago
did not bloom a lot, was scraggly ...
Sheri in Alabama

Sheri, here's another dark purple with very long, tubular flowers. I've ordered from Select Seeds a couple of times and they send really nice plants. http://www.selectseeds.com/cgi...

that one Is nice too but I like your Purple Majesty

the Blue ensign I have is the prettiest blue
I have seen..

Love to walk past it every day in bloom and photograph it and the hummingbirds
Sheri

Any of the Salvia's can get scraggy if they aren't pruned. I usually do at least a mild pruning in June when they are growing like crazy and bounce back fast.