Our experience with these is that they need to be cut back hard after every bloom cycle. The exception seems to be the dry inter-mountain area of the west, where this was developed. Of course local nurseries want them to bloom for sale, and hence won't cut them back for proper growth. Don't be shy - give them a hard haircut to keep them compact.

Thank you Kermit for your input! I have learned a lot from reading your comments and from info on the FBTS website! I actually did cut back the second one I bought because it was all sprawled horizontally and that one, though smaller overall, is growing in better now and finally has the beginnings of bloom stalk on a couple branches. I probably would not have needed to stake it at all but wanted to be extra cautious in case we got more of the really heavy rains we had late spring into early summer!

FBTS said:Our experience with these is that they need to be cut back hard after every bloom cycle. The exception seems to be the dry inter-mountain area of the west, where this was developed. Of course local nurseries want them to bloom for sale, and hence won't cut them back for proper growth. Don't be shy - give them a hard haircut to keep them compact.

@FBTS

What do you mean by "they need to be cut back hard after every bloom cycle" ? Mine just keeps putting out buds and flowers. I do deadhead the individual flowers and the the stems if any that are finished blooming.

In moist climates Windwalker grows so fast it gets top heavy and breaks. We pinch them twice just in 3 1/2 inch pots! In the ground, we'll cut a branch back 1/4 to 1/2 after it flowers out, to get low branching and stronger stems. To do so you might have to sacrifice a few of the last flowers on a stem, but its a small price to pay fr a stronger plant.

@FBTS

Thanks for sharing your info! Good to know!

I grow Windwalker without any supplemental water at all and in barren sandy soil and it still sprawls. Next year I will give it a couple of pinches, the last in June and see what happens. The flower is great, very large for the type, and the color very saturated.

@WardDas

Welcome!

with everything you stated. I'm hoping mine survives the winter in a container. If not, then I'll order another one and pinch it back for bushiness next year. The flower is stunning, large and non fading. This Salvia is a 'winner'!

Wow what a difference a simple thing like less water and appropriate pruning make!!! My first Windwalker Royal Red Salvia has multiple bloom stalks now and is filling in nicely. The tip of the tallest main branch comes up to my nose and I am almost 5ft 7in (and of course it isn't perfectly upright)- amazing!! The hummingbirds have been all over it since there are more blooms to attract their attention. My second one is now blooming, the longest stalk, and filling in nicely despite the loss of the second longest stalk that was staked - one of my puppies decided to "prune" it off early about 4 inches from the ground. All but the last picture are of the first one, the last picture is the second one.This is definitely a keeper!

@WardDas
I am pretty new to this site myself- just joined at the time I posted this thread. I want to welcome you too!! And thanks for your input!

@jg0613

Great pics and thanks for sharing them. Cute little doggie also.

@Marilyn
Actually there are 2 of my doggies, a different one in second and third pic. Not the best view of either of them But they are pretty special. In second pic my oldest puppy Frankie, a red sable and white Papillon almost 11 mo old. In the third pic Little Bear- he is our Blonde long hair Chihuahua and about 10 yr old. When I am photographing plants I try to do it when the dogs are in the house or occupied in another part of the yard but I had good light and honestly wasn't paying attention and didn't notice them in those pics till after I took them. They nibble on the long weedy grass at base of the fence- time to pull and trim those weeds!!

@jg0613

I wouldn't think any grass and/or weeds would be good for them.

@Marilyn
There are definitely plants that are toxic to dogs if eaten. A little grass doesn't hurt them- they don't eat a lot. It is weedy grass. I have made sure to identify the weeds in the fenced area of the back yard that they have acces to and made sure nothing is toxic. Not all my dogs do this and the ones that do don't do it all the time. I also never have them outside unless my husband or I is out with them to supervise. They are indoor dogs, only out for potty and for periods of play in nice weather.