I grow it in zone 8b. It withstands 100F+ and as low as the teens. It stays in the ground year around without trouble. It spreads, but not badly and is easily dug and divided. It as a beautiful salvia.
I'm in 8b also , Pensacola /Pace area . I have loads of black and blue in a bed against the back of my house facing west but no Amistad . It sounds worth giving a try .
Good to hear. I’m in zone 9 Paradise Ca & I lost my house & all my trees in the fire. Lots of sun☀️. The plant is very new & still in the container but doesn’t like the afternoon heat, should I plant it on the shady side of the house?
@@shirleyandrews1152 in the ground, it should have more room for its roots. They need water than they may be getting in a pot. Sorry about your house and trees.
I did not realize how much this plant would grow. It is almost taller than my 6-foot fence. I planted two of the four salvias too close to my rose of Sharon. Thanks for your video. I'm going to move it when the weather is cold enough to stop the bees from feeding off of it.
This is such a gorgeous plant. I live close to the beach in Southern California. Amistad is in bloom all year long. It grows well over 6 ft and just as wide. You can severely prune it and it bounces right back. Thank you for your video. I hope it encourages more people to grow it. It's a marvel and a joy to sit quietly in the garden watching an immense amount of hummingbirds feeding from this stunning plant. 😍
Thank you for the information re looking after Salvia Amistad. I have planted my Salvias exactly as you have shown, secured them with garden twines against the white picket fence and used bamboo canes camouflaged at the rear. Unlike you I do not lift them for winter but apply lots of mulch at the base once the plants begin to die back. I often cut them down to keep them looking tidy. Taken lots of cuttings, but stuck them in containers growing other plants. And they are doing well. (I never take cuttings and place them in special pots with fresh composts etc. I occasionally move the pots in a sheltered area) . I agree that Salvia Amistad is a good value plant but I do not think they are very robust. They are floriforous for sure. I plan to divide the roots of some for propagation next spring. Thanks. From UK.
Amistad is the best part of gardening in SW Florida 9b. I have blooms all year but the best show is the winter & early spring. 10/10, I couldn’t agree more!
Thank you ! I bought that plant, it was the only one there & all it said was “salvia”. It was too expensive in a 3gl pot but I HAD TO HAVE IT😻 I’m glad I did. Now I can give it its name❤
For now I am just admiring. I am retired and it is my 2nd year of flower adventure, very successful. I am near Warsaw, Poland, winters are mild now, but winterizing is an issue. I don't have a garage, my basement is warm and dry so I am just admiring your technique...
Thank you for this, I never knew I could dig it up and store it over winter! I fell in love with this last year, so late summer I decided to try my hand at propagating it for this year. I successfully rooted 6 cuttings that I am now going to pot up to the next size pot. My question though is should I let these grow, or pinch them back? They already have some flowers which I pinched off, so more energy would go into the roots. And they are getting a bit leggy. They are in a bright sunny south facing window. I am in zone 4b so these won't get planted out until late May.
It is a great plant to save via cuttings. Pinch them back and keep them on the slightly drier side. Your job is to get them safely to spring and then put them up ideally. Please keep me posted on your success.
Thanks Ian. Great presentation, relaxed and thorough...except, did you say where you kept your salvia over the winter? I have had reasonable success in an unheated greenhouse in Northern England, but it's not 100% reliable. As insurance I take a few cuttings and keep them in a cool room indoors. I agree, it's a lovely plant!
@@PlantedwithIanCooke I think it has been out there for around 5 years. It has become very woody and wild. When I asked someone at the nursery he said it must be the soil. The ones I have in my backyard are not doing the same and I have pruned them back to see if they will come back strong.
I see your in the Central Valley. I’m near Fresno (actually in Madera County) where we had several days of 110+ and few mornings of freeze. Is this the same weather conditions as you? I have some salvia (Hot Lips) but would like to try more varieties. Trying to find some that will bloom more in the winter. Thanks
@@denisemayfield2650 Ohh I just looked up the hot lips and they are awesome. I will be getting myself some if our nursery sells them. Thank you for sharing that plant name.
I love this plant, zone 9b. Hot weather 100 degrees now. No water, no problem. I’m just introducing a pink salvia. I want all of the salvia’s eventually. They need to be pruned back once the blooms fade but it only takes a minute and then they rather quickly bloom again
Hi! I have salvia black and blue which looks similar! It was so beautiful! Still blooming here in 8b about 5 ft tall. I didnt even know it would be so amazing!! It just takes up a big area thats perfect. Probably the best accidentally planted plant ive ever done. Just picked them up at home depot mid season. Im hoping it will winter over and come back strong, but i will be looking for it sooner, and now mabe this one you have also!
Your video is inspiring!! I must have watched your video a few months ago and then did some late-night online shopping. 4 salvia Amistad plants have been shipped to my house :-).
You won't regret it. I just discovered/bought it last year. I'm in zone 9B and the snow killed the branches and it looked dead, but there was just enough green for me to nurture it (basically one little stub). Now in September you wouldn't believe the size of this beauty! I've got two Hummers that fight over it about every 10 minutes.
Ha!. I do the same, up at 3am, and a few months later some plants arrive at the door! I say oh I must have ordered during late night garden planning! Now I want this one too. Wonder where's the best place to order it?
@@PlantedwithIanCooke I have it, fantastic plant. We moved house last April so I dug it up and cut it in half, re planted one half for the new owners and bought the other here in a pot gave it a sunny corner and it's come back amazing. Took some cuttings from it, waiting for those to root. Great video thanks 😊
OK grown now for 2 years and definitely at the top of my list. We will see how it fared through the deep brutal Christmas freeze of 22 soon enough. Fingers crossed. One I like equally as well is called Amante. It has red magenta flowers instead of purple. Have killed a few planting them in soil that is not well drained. Propagates easily from softwood cuttings under mist in a few weeks. Good insurance to keep. a few cuttings indoors during the winter, too. Tried most of the "American" named similar salvias and none have performed as well long term, as Amistad.
Ok Freeze report... The brutal Christmas freeze took out all my Amistads except the original one (thank God) Lost all my American cultivars except blue suede shoes and my favorite "Amante" is toast. Fortunately I overwintered a cutting of it indoors.
Great tutorial. I live in Glasgow, west central Scotland. I lift and store my dahlia tubers in our attic after the first frost. Do you think I can do the same with Salvia Amistad roots? ( ie just keep them dry in a crate? )
What a great video. Advice re overwintering please: do you dig up the root and pot up for the winter, or just store as you would a dahlia, in a box of peat? I am in UK (8b) and usually dig my half hardy salvias (which I have started collecting) and pot up in the GH but with large ones it’s hard finding big enough pots! If I leave them in the ground I sometimes lose them, sometimes not. 2 ‘Love & Wishes’, like Amistad but a pretty maroon pink died in year one 😕
I let mine receive some cool weather; a light frost is nature’s way of slowing plant growth down. I give it a hard prune leaving stems about 12” / 30cm long and place in a pot large enough to hold the roots. Keep it above freezing, give it light and keep it on the dry side. You don’t want to induce a lot of growth, you just want it to stay alive ready for next year.
Hi Ian, I am in Colorado and really hoping to save my 3 Amistads. They gave me great joy this year. It's coming on the first frost thia weekend, should i dig out the root ball before or after that first frost? Then do you cut down at the same time or wait a bit? Im hoping i can try some cuttings too as backup. But I'm a newbie.
Cut them back, dig them up and plant them in new pots with fresh potting mix. Keep at 40f minimum and slightly dry and they will be on tick over for the winter. Or, keep just one plant and do as above and take cuttings next March from the one plant
A few mild freezes and it should survive. The plant needs to go dormant - that is, no active growth. A series of cool nights 34 to 36F will slow it down and put it to sleep before you pit it up. Keep the growing medium on the drier side - this acts as insulation. Should you get into the 20’s even for one night it is likely to die.
I love Salvias of all kinds. There are many. But my concern about Amistad and some other varieties, is that they are not native. I am on a mission of planting only native. Non-native plants cost us in the billions of dollars of losses in our country, every year. It impacts not only crops, but harms wildlife. It’s worth looking it up.
Thanks very much for the helpful video. I lost mine in the winter. Can i buy plants now to keep in a pot over winter or should i wait and buy new in the Spring?
This is an awesome tutorial - beautiful plant!! I just received one and am looking forward to seeing how it does this year. I have a question though, do you overwinter the root ball in a pot and where should I keep it? When did you dig it? Thank you so much and btw, your garden is to die for. It's amazing!!!
What is your growing zone? Salvia ‘Amistad’ is a year round plant in the south of USA. A mild frost will kill the foliage but the root ball is still viable. Prolonged frost of 32F will kill it. I cut it back, dig it up and keep it at 35-40F, any warmer and it will start actively growing. I place it in a pot and keep it on the dry side. Hope this helps.
@@PlantedwithIanCooke I'm sorry, I should have included that information with my question. I live in zone 6ab Michigan. I would love to dig the root ball and overwinter it, but just wondering when to dig it and where and how to store it, thank you!
@@shuvanidev He recommended that you store it in a room that stays cold but always above freezing, and you should probably dig it out around the same time when temperatures start dipping below freezing, since the root mass can only handle a light frost.
Thank you for this video. I love my salvias which I overwintered this year and they are showing signs of growth (it’s now mid April and warmer than usual in Illinois). Questions: do I need to repot them for 4-6 weeks before putting them in the ground? Also should I cut off the tiny growths that started coming up late winter? Thank you!
Do you put the dug up plant in a pot with dirt for the winter and keep it inside like a basement or garage, watering a little during winter Or, do you just store the root system in a pot without dirt?
Cut back to about 12” tall - 30cm prune the roots and plant in a pot with soil or potting mix. I have best success with keeping plants cooler and drier to over winter. This salvia is kept at about 40f and watered lightly 3 or 4 times over the winter.
That was brilliant, honestly. I've always battled with these things. I've never got such a nice full plant but rather a few lanky tall shoots with a large truss of flowers on the end. Nice, the colour is stunning but not a very well behaved garden plant for me these. Unfortunately I always passed up Amistad. At the moment I have Black&Bloom, Purple&Bloom plus the paler true blue Black&Blue which I've had for years. Purple&Bloom is looking promising however the flower trusses are a bit small, it is however a very compact plant, well branched. I will give it a haircut see if it rebounds as well as your Amistad. It seems Amistad might have tubers in that root stock which help it over winter, same as the original Black&Blue. My climate is pretty much go go go as we don't get much of a winter just a dry season. I like the size of your root stock it's incredible as are the thickness of the spent stems on it. I had no idea they got this sturdy. I snip bits off and stick them in the ground and all three root and take off extremely easily, I just have to wait for those events of week after week of rain we get all the time in the wet monsoon season. Unfortunately I can only get these things when I travel as we don't have nurseries as such and plants, any interesting plants, all are tricky to get but i will be sure to get one next time I'm abroad. Black&bloom has the best trusses of flowers I've ever seen on one of these Guarantica's, the flowers are big and the trusses thick, plus it's the darkest electric blue I've seen. I'm going to transplant it as its getting too much shade, hoping it performs a bit like your Amistad as it came out a few years after Amistad. Fingers crawsed. Love your vid, that thing makes my mouth water, it looks like the ancient Dahlia rootstocks my Mum used to grow and store in the Hill Station. Thanks for showing, I certainly learnt something Ian!
Thank you for your post. Amistad is a true performer and with it being pruned after a few mild frosts and moved to a frost free greenhouse, it is resting ready for explosive growth. In your climate with minimal winter have you cut it back to 12” ? It should explode
@@PlantedwithIanCooke Wow Ok my "purple and bloom" is only three foot at the moment maybe leave it to have a few more flushes of flowers before i chop it down.
Wow, I'm in the SE England and bought Amustad for the first time last Spring. I have seen it in gardens growing to 6'high but had no idea if was so substantial. I've planted some in a couple of different locations and will try leaving in the ground and mulching heavily this Winter. Fingers crossed as I don't have a greenhouse or anything so tend not to propagate. However, if unsuccessful I may try lifting as you suggest. Did you have any success leaving them in the ground in the UK?
I would think they would survive in southeast of England year round. Cut in back to 30cm high after the first frost. Add layers of dry leafs to cover the plant and add a net weighted down with stones. The crown needs to remain dry to survive; the layers of leafs will shed the rain and insulate from cold. Good luck
Salvia spathacea has a lower habit than S.Amistad, up to 3 feet. A real hummingbird magnet. Plant in full sun www.anniesannuals.com/plants/view/?id=942
Ian, great video! Love what you've done to over winter your plant. I live in zone 6 in the states. My question is do you dig it up BEFORE the 1st frost or just AFTER? Once its dug up store it in a cool place that does not freeze? Thanks!!!
@@PlantedwithIanCooke thanks Ian. One last question please. If I dig it up in November (here in Rhode Island) and root prune do I just keep it slightly moist and then put into a pot w soil 4-6 weeks before last frost? Thanks again great video
How do you propagate it from cuttings? Thanks for the great encouraging video. Do you water the plant at all during the dormant winter time? Burry it in anything indoors like sawdust?
In earlier videos I show how to take cuttings, use that method for this Salvia. The plant is cut back in November and placed in the frost free greenhouse in garden soil. No sawdust needed. Too moist and it will rot. Good luck
Had an incredibly beautiful plant then it was attacked by some insect that chewed up most of the leaves overnight. Any recommendations for a natural big repellent. Thanks.
@@PlantedwithIanCooke Its wonderful for the hummingbirds. Now I will dig it up each year Does this work with most salvias? thank you. I might try it with Wendy's Wish, too. Between those two salvia I can see hummers almost all day long.
@@markstevenson9080 Many Salvia are worth overwintering in a frost free greenhouse. An established plant will generate growth 6 -8 weeks earlier in a greenhouse further extending the flowering season.
I have small seedling salvias which are not frost hardy, one of them Amistad. Intending to overwinter them in cold greenhouse. But, once established, and in the ground next year, what do you do to protect them from frost? Do you mulch or put plastic sheeting...? I was told these needed frost protection, otherwise die.
I have found Salvia Amistad to be robust and reliable. What zone are you in? Next October, in 2023 allow you plant to get lightly frosted. This will help establish dormancy. Prune the plant hard leaving 8 inch long stems. Add layers of leafs to make a mount of at least 18” high. Add some net with bricks to stop the leafs blowing away. Remove leafs in mid- late March.
Salvia Amistad is a clone; and seedling propagation will likely give you some variability in the next generation. It could be desirable but usually these seedlings are less vigorous. I encourage you to take cuttings from your mother plant as they contain the correct genetic code.
@@PlantedwithIanCooke Thank you so much, this was very useful. I will save your information. I am in Uk, in countryside Herefordshire, we get frosts, (sometimes even snow occasionally, but not every year). But, doesn't go below 0 C, that I know of.
@@PlantedwithIanCooke North Herefordshire, I think that is equivalent to USA zone 9 or 10. Thanks for the video. Average winter temperature is around 5 C, it is not too cold, but we do have frosts here and there. It is not snowing not every year, and doesn't hold for long. We do have a lot of leaves, as we live near an arboretum, and have a lot of trees. I will be collecting leaves for composting, and now for mulching.
Zone 5 is chilly! If you dig it up and move it to a sheltered location in full sun and plant it 3”-5” deeper and add 18” leafs it might work. Good luck
I have many subscribers that grow this wonderful Salvia in zone 9 and report it to survive in ground year round. I would recommend it receive a few light frosts before you cut it back to about 12” above ground. Then add a layer of leafs and you are all set. In colder climates a thicker layer is recommended. In 6b I encourage the root to be dug up and stored in a cold greenhouse or cool basement. Good luck.
What is the difference between amistad and black and bloom ? I live in 8b and black and bloom comes back every year . I’ve taken several cuttings in spring and made several more from my original plant .
Greg - it’s called Salvia Black and Blue although your name is a good one. They have a similar habit 4+ feet tall but Amistad is a dark purple. Black and Blue has paler blue flowers with black whorls. I recommend you grow both.
There is a black and blue , but I have the newer variety black and bloom . It’s an improved variety of black and blue . Darker stems and blooms here from mid April into late November nonstop . It’s an incredible variety that I ordered from Whites Flowers in Connecticut. I’ve made many cuttings over the last four years . It’s a hummingbird magnet for sure .
Many plants grow true to type when grown from seeds. However, many seeds display what is called ‘seedling variability’, they can exhibit slight differences from the original. Salvia Amistad is believed to be a naturally occurring hybrid found in Argentina. This hybrid back ground would further increase the variability and you may end up with a weak plant. I recommend you find a plant and take lots of cuttings. I would not rely on growing it from seed.
I grow it in zone 8b. It withstands 100F+ and as low as the teens. It stays in the ground year around without trouble. It spreads, but not badly and is easily dug and divided. It as a beautiful salvia.
How long have you been growing your plant? Has it stayed vigorous?
@@PlantedwithIanCooke at least six years. It has stayed vigorous throughout. I do have to keep it watered when it is hot and dry.
I'm in 8b also , Pensacola /Pace area . I have loads of black and blue in a bed against the back of my house facing west but no Amistad . It sounds worth giving a try .
Good to hear. I’m in zone 9 Paradise Ca & I lost my house & all my trees in the fire. Lots of sun☀️. The plant is very new & still in the container but doesn’t like the afternoon heat, should I plant it on the shady side of the house?
@@shirleyandrews1152 in the ground, it should have more room for its roots. They need water than they may be getting in a pot. Sorry about your house and trees.
I bring in NY, in a large pot,sleeps all winter and walla, June in full bloom....zone 5
I did not realize how much this plant would grow. It is almost taller than my 6-foot fence. I planted two of the four salvias too close to my rose of Sharon. Thanks for your video. I'm going to move it when the weather is cold enough to stop the bees from feeding off of it.
This is such a gorgeous plant. I live close to the beach in Southern California. Amistad is in bloom all year long. It grows well over 6 ft and just as wide. You can severely prune it and it bounces right back. Thank you for your video. I hope it encourages more people to grow it. It's a marvel and a joy to sit quietly in the garden watching an immense amount of hummingbirds feeding from this stunning plant. 😍
Salvia are terrific. I enjoy your candor and pleasantness . Thanks for doing this.
Happy to help a fellow plant person
Thank you for the information re looking after Salvia Amistad. I have planted my Salvias exactly as you have shown, secured them with garden twines against the white picket fence and used bamboo canes camouflaged at the rear. Unlike you I do not lift them for winter but apply lots of mulch at the base once the plants begin to die back. I often cut them down to keep them looking tidy. Taken lots of cuttings, but stuck them in containers growing other plants. And they are doing well. (I never take cuttings and place them in special pots with fresh composts etc. I occasionally move the pots in a sheltered area) . I agree that Salvia Amistad is a good value plant but I do not think they are very robust. They are floriforous for sure. I plan to divide the roots of some for propagation next spring. Thanks. From UK.
You offer great insight and encouragement to others, thank you for your post. Ian
Amistad is the best part of gardening in SW Florida 9b. I have blooms all year but the best show is the winter & early spring. 10/10, I couldn’t agree more!
Thank you ! I bought that plant, it was the only one there & all it said was “salvia”. It was too expensive in a 3gl pot but I HAD TO HAVE IT😻 I’m glad I did. Now I can give it its name❤
Beautiful plant, excellent advise. thanks for sharing!
Thank you very much. Do you grow this plant?
For now I am just admiring.
I am retired and it is my 2nd year of flower adventure, very successful.
I am near Warsaw, Poland, winters are mild now, but winterizing is an issue.
I don't have a garage, my basement is warm and dry so I am just admiring your technique...
Thank you for this, I never knew I could dig it up and store it over winter! I fell in love with this last year, so late summer I decided to try my hand at propagating it for this year. I successfully rooted 6 cuttings that I am now going to pot up to the next size pot. My question though is should I let these grow, or pinch them back? They already have some flowers which I pinched off, so more energy would go into the roots. And they are getting a bit leggy. They are in a bright sunny south facing window. I am in zone 4b so these won't get planted out until late May.
It is a great plant to save via cuttings. Pinch them back and keep them on the slightly drier side. Your job is to get them safely to spring and then put them up ideally. Please keep me posted on your success.
Thanks Ian. Great presentation, relaxed and thorough...except, did you say where you kept your salvia over the winter? I have had reasonable success in an unheated greenhouse in Northern England, but it's not 100% reliable. As insurance I take a few cuttings and keep them in a cool room indoors. I agree, it's a lovely plant!
Thank you, great video. I love my S. Amistad, and the Hummers are constantly coming to it.
I chose not to grow it this year. I miss its relentless flowering. It will be back next year I think.
@@PlantedwithIanCooke I know, I love how long the flowers last. It's such a rich color too.
Mine blooms all year round here in central California.
How many years have you been growing it? Is it just as vigorous now as when you planted it?
@@PlantedwithIanCooke I think it has been out there for around 5 years. It has become very woody and wild. When I asked someone at the nursery he said it must be the soil. The ones I have in my backyard are not doing the same and I have pruned them back to see if they will come back strong.
@@PlantedwithIanCooke Yes, it is as vigorous and has even started new plants so I will be planting them and sharing them with my neighbors.
I see your in the Central Valley. I’m near Fresno (actually in Madera County) where we had several days of 110+ and few mornings of freeze. Is this the same weather conditions as you? I have some salvia (Hot Lips) but would like to try more varieties. Trying to find some that will bloom more in the winter. Thanks
@@denisemayfield2650 Ohh I just looked up the hot lips and they are awesome. I will be getting myself some if our nursery sells them. Thank you for sharing that plant name.
I love this plant, zone 9b. Hot weather 100 degrees now. No water, no problem. I’m just introducing a pink salvia. I want all of the salvia’s eventually. They need to be pruned back once the blooms fade but it only takes a minute and then they rather quickly bloom again
I just found you!
I have found a new best friend!
Thank you!
I believe I will be learning a lot from you!
You are the real thing!
❤️🌻❤️
Well thank you for finding me!
Lots of overlapping advice, guidance and insight. happy gardening
Hi! I have salvia black and blue which looks similar! It was so beautiful! Still blooming here in 8b about 5 ft tall. I didnt even know it would be so amazing!! It just takes up a big area thats perfect. Probably the best accidentally planted plant ive ever done. Just picked them up at home depot mid season. Im hoping it will winter over and come back strong, but i will be looking for it sooner, and now mabe this one you have also!
Your video is inspiring!! I must have watched your video a few months ago and then did some late-night online shopping. 4 salvia Amistad plants have been shipped to my house :-).
You will love the plant and the hummingbirds. Congratulations.
You won't regret it. I just discovered/bought it last year. I'm in zone 9B and the snow killed the branches and it looked dead, but there was just enough green for me to nurture it (basically one little stub).
Now in September you wouldn't believe the size of this beauty! I've got two Hummers that fight over it about every 10 minutes.
Ha!. I do the same, up at 3am, and a few months later some plants arrive at the door! I say oh I must have ordered during late night garden planning! Now I want this one too. Wonder where's the best place to order it?
@@dvssayer5621 I purchased mine at White Flower Farm
Wow! That is one heck of a root, well done! :)
Thank you. It’s a great plant well worth finding, growing and saving for future years. Do you have it?
@@PlantedwithIanCooke I have it, fantastic plant.
We moved house last April so I dug it up and cut it in half, re planted one half for the new owners and bought the other here in a pot gave it a sunny corner and it's come back amazing.
Took some cuttings from it, waiting for those to root.
Great video thanks 😊
Forgot to say it's now in the garden and the size is exactly as you said, beautifull and the bees love it.
Good advice and beatifully combined with the tabacco
What is your growing zone?
@@PlantedwithIanCooke i think Berlin is a 7?
OK grown now for 2 years and definitely at the top of my list. We will see how it fared through the deep brutal Christmas freeze of 22 soon enough. Fingers crossed. One I like equally as well is called Amante. It has red magenta flowers instead of purple. Have killed a few planting them in soil that is not well drained. Propagates easily from softwood cuttings under mist in a few weeks. Good insurance to keep. a few cuttings indoors during the winter, too. Tried most of the "American" named similar salvias and none have performed as well long term, as Amistad.
Great advice and insight. Keeping a few cuttings over winter takes minimal space and you have spare plants to give away. Thank you for posting
Ok Freeze report... The brutal Christmas freeze took out all my Amistads except the original one (thank God) Lost all my American cultivars except blue suede shoes and my favorite "Amante" is toast. Fortunately I overwintered a cutting of it indoors.
Great tutorial. I live in Glasgow, west central Scotland. I lift and store my dahlia tubers in our attic after the first frost. Do you think I can do the same with Salvia Amistad roots? ( ie just keep them dry in a crate? )
Yes, keep them at 5c over winter and slightly damp
Here in Sydney it's called Black n Bloom.
What a great video. Advice re overwintering please: do you dig up the root and pot up for the winter, or just store as you would a dahlia, in a box of peat? I am in UK (8b) and usually dig my half hardy salvias (which I have started collecting) and pot up in the GH but with large ones it’s hard finding big enough pots! If I leave them in the ground I sometimes lose them, sometimes not. 2 ‘Love & Wishes’, like Amistad but a pretty maroon pink died in year one 😕
I let mine receive some cool weather; a light frost is nature’s way of slowing plant growth down. I give it a hard prune leaving stems about 12” / 30cm long and place in a pot large enough to hold the roots. Keep it above freezing, give it light and keep it on the dry side. You don’t want to induce a lot of growth, you just want it to stay alive ready for next year.
Thank you Ian, really helpful video (& reply!)
Had love&wishes here in the UK too, paid a lot of money for it, but sadly it didn't survive the winter frost 😢
Scored half price at Lowes discount rack today.
That is a win! What state are you in?
Спасибо , мой ещё совсем молодой , буду хранить как вы в вазоне . Благодарю за полезеый урок. Привет из Украины !
Thank you
Hi Ian, I am in Colorado and really hoping to save my 3 Amistads. They gave me great joy this year. It's coming on the first frost thia weekend, should i dig out the root ball before or after that first frost? Then do you cut down at the same time or wait a bit? Im hoping i can try some cuttings too as backup. But I'm a newbie.
Cut them back, dig them up and plant them in new pots with fresh potting mix.
Keep at 40f minimum and slightly dry and they will be on tick over for the winter.
Or, keep just one plant and do as above and take cuttings next March from the one plant
Hello Ian, I just found you!!! I'm in zone 6a Michigan. After I dig it up and pot it, can it overwinter in a dark, unheated garage and survive?
A few mild freezes and it should survive. The plant needs to go dormant - that is, no active growth. A series of cool nights 34 to 36F will slow it down and put it to sleep before you pit it up. Keep the growing medium on the drier side - this acts as insulation. Should you get into the 20’s even for one night it is likely to die.
I love Salvias of all kinds. There are many. But my concern about Amistad and some other varieties, is that they are not native. I am on a mission of planting only native. Non-native plants cost us in the billions of dollars of losses in our country, every year. It impacts not only crops, but harms wildlife. It’s worth looking it up.
Well that an interesting thought; native to when? 50 years ago? 100 years ago… perhaps 300 years ago
Tell me with confidence where the goal posts are.
Hi Ian, how and where do you store it for winter? Regards Simon.
Dig it up, cut it back and keep in a large pot on the dry side above 40F
Thanks very much for the helpful video. I lost mine in the winter. Can i buy plants now to keep in a pot over winter or should i wait and buy new in the Spring?
If you have space to store them get them now
Really great video. Thank you? Where do you keep it in winter? How many degrees?
I have a cold greenhouse that is kept frost free. It is a tough plant
This is an awesome tutorial - beautiful plant!! I just received one and am looking forward to seeing how it does this year. I have a question though, do you overwinter the root ball in a pot and where should I keep it? When did you dig it? Thank you so much and btw, your garden is to die for. It's amazing!!!
What is your growing zone? Salvia ‘Amistad’ is a year round plant in the south of USA. A mild frost will kill the foliage but the root ball is still viable. Prolonged frost of 32F will kill it.
I cut it back, dig it up and keep it at 35-40F, any warmer and it will start actively growing. I place it in a pot and keep it on the dry side. Hope this helps.
@@PlantedwithIanCooke I'm sorry, I should have included that information with my question. I live in zone 6ab Michigan. I would love to dig the root ball and overwinter it, but just wondering when to dig it and where and how to store it, thank you!
@@shuvanidev He recommended that you store it in a room that stays cold but always above freezing, and you should probably dig it out around the same time when temperatures start dipping below freezing, since the root mass can only handle a light frost.
Thank you for this video. I love my salvias which I overwintered this year and they are showing signs of growth (it’s now mid April and warmer than usual in Illinois). Questions: do I need to repot them for 4-6 weeks before putting them in the ground? Also should I cut off the tiny growths that started coming up late winter? Thank you!
Repotting it will promote new feeding roots and get your plant established faster. Prune off any straggling growth
Thanks for your quick advice! I’ll get on it asap today. Happy spring
Do you put the dug up plant in a pot with dirt for the winter and keep it inside like a basement or garage, watering a little during winter Or, do you just store the root system in a pot without dirt?
Cut back to about 12” tall - 30cm prune the roots and plant in a pot with soil or potting mix. I have best success with keeping plants cooler and drier to over winter. This salvia is kept at about 40f and watered lightly 3 or 4 times over the winter.
BIG fan of salvias!
Salvia are great value, unique and very colorful. I am glad you appreciate them
That was brilliant, honestly. I've always battled with these things. I've never got such a nice full plant but rather a few lanky tall shoots with a large truss of flowers on the end. Nice, the colour is stunning but not a very well behaved garden plant for me these. Unfortunately I always passed up Amistad. At the moment I have Black&Bloom, Purple&Bloom plus the paler true blue Black&Blue which I've had for years. Purple&Bloom is looking promising however the flower trusses are a bit small, it is however a very compact plant, well branched. I will give it a haircut see if it rebounds as well as your Amistad. It seems Amistad might have tubers in that root stock which help it over winter, same as the original Black&Blue. My climate is pretty much go go go as we don't get much of a winter just a dry season. I like the size of your root stock it's incredible as are the thickness of the spent stems on it. I had no idea they got this sturdy. I snip bits off and stick them in the ground and all three root and take off extremely easily, I just have to wait for those events of week after week of rain we get all the time in the wet monsoon season. Unfortunately I can only get these things when I travel as we don't have nurseries as such and plants, any interesting plants, all are tricky to get but i will be sure to get one next time I'm abroad. Black&bloom has the best trusses of flowers I've ever seen on one of these Guarantica's, the flowers are big and the trusses thick, plus it's the darkest electric blue I've seen. I'm going to transplant it as its getting too much shade, hoping it performs a bit like your Amistad as it came out a few years after Amistad. Fingers crawsed. Love your vid, that thing makes my mouth water, it looks like the ancient Dahlia rootstocks my Mum used to grow and store in the Hill Station. Thanks for showing, I certainly learnt something Ian!
Thank you for your post. Amistad is a true performer and with it being pruned after a few mild frosts and moved to a frost free greenhouse, it is resting ready for explosive growth. In your climate with minimal winter have you cut it back to 12” ? It should explode
@@equestanton1017 1 foot from the ground, my Amistad grew 5 feet tall.
@@PlantedwithIanCooke Wow Ok my "purple and bloom" is only three foot at the moment maybe leave it to have a few more flushes of flowers before i chop it down.
Wow, I'm in the SE England and bought Amustad for the first time last Spring. I have seen it in gardens growing to 6'high but had no idea if was so substantial. I've planted some in a couple of different locations and will try leaving in the ground and mulching heavily this Winter. Fingers crossed as I don't have a greenhouse or anything so tend not to propagate. However, if unsuccessful I may try lifting as you suggest. Did you have any success leaving them in the ground in the UK?
I would think they would survive in southeast of England year round. Cut in back to 30cm high after the first frost. Add layers of dry leafs to cover the plant and add a net weighted down with stones. The crown needs to remain dry to survive; the layers of leafs will shed the rain and insulate from cold. Good luck
I just bought a salvia spathacea. My first. Will it grow similar to the Amistad?
Salvia spathacea has a lower habit than S.Amistad, up to 3 feet. A real hummingbird magnet. Plant in full sun
www.anniesannuals.com/plants/view/?id=942
Ian, great video! Love what you've done to over winter your plant. I live in zone 6 in the states. My question is do you dig it up BEFORE the 1st frost or just AFTER? Once its dug up store it in a cool place that does not freeze? Thanks!!!
Sorry Ian. Looks like you dig it up after the 1st frost. Thanks
The first frost is typically an air frost, light and enough to shrivel tender leafs. This is the sign to prune back and dig up, good luck
@@PlantedwithIanCooke thanks Ian. One last question please. If I dig it up in November (here in Rhode Island) and root prune do I just keep it slightly moist and then put into a pot w soil 4-6 weeks before last frost? Thanks again great video
As soon as you said I know what it will become…….
Thank you!
❤️🌻❤️
I am happy you like it.
How do you propagate it from cuttings?
Thanks for the great encouraging video. Do you water the plant at all during the dormant winter time? Burry it in anything indoors like sawdust?
In earlier videos I show how to take cuttings, use that method for this Salvia. The plant is cut back in November and placed in the frost free greenhouse in garden soil. No sawdust needed. Too moist and it will rot. Good luck
Had an incredibly beautiful plant then it was attacked by some insect that chewed up most of the leaves overnight. Any recommendations for a natural big repellent. Thanks.
@@carolynbrotherton4599 Could you identify the culprit?
Helps to know what you are fighting
Thank you so much for the information!
Do you have Salvia Amistad? How does it grow for you?
@@PlantedwithIanCooke Its wonderful for the hummingbirds. Now I will dig it up each year Does this work with most salvias? thank you. I might try it with Wendy's Wish, too. Between those two salvia I can see hummers almost all day long.
@@markstevenson9080 Many Salvia are worth overwintering in a frost free greenhouse. An established plant will generate growth 6 -8 weeks earlier in a greenhouse further extending the flowering season.
@@PlantedwithIanCooke Thank you!
@@PlantedwithIanCooke thank you! I will follow your instructions.
Beautiful plant! Will it propagate in water?
Yes, they can root in water. I would encourage you to take multiple cuttings some in water and some in potting mix.
Good luck
Thank you!
I have small seedling salvias which are not frost hardy, one of them Amistad. Intending to overwinter them in cold greenhouse. But, once established, and in the ground next year, what do you do to protect them from frost? Do you mulch or put plastic sheeting...? I was told these needed frost protection, otherwise die.
I have found Salvia Amistad to be robust and reliable. What zone are you in?
Next October, in 2023 allow you plant to get lightly frosted. This will help establish dormancy. Prune the plant hard leaving 8 inch long stems. Add layers of leafs to make a mount of at least 18” high. Add some net with bricks to stop the leafs blowing away.
Remove leafs in mid- late March.
Salvia Amistad is a clone; and seedling propagation will likely give you some variability in the next generation. It could be desirable but usually these seedlings are less vigorous.
I encourage you to take cuttings from your mother plant as they contain the correct genetic code.
@@PlantedwithIanCooke Thank you so much, this was very useful. I will save your information. I am in Uk, in countryside Herefordshire, we get frosts, (sometimes even snow occasionally, but not every year). But, doesn't go below 0 C, that I know of.
@@HigherChannel where in herefordshire?
Have a look at this link. th-cam.com/video/nHcsCG3OzuM/w-d-xo.html
@@PlantedwithIanCooke North Herefordshire, I think that is equivalent to USA zone 9 or 10. Thanks for the video. Average winter temperature is around 5 C, it is not too cold, but we do have frosts here and there. It is not snowing not every year, and doesn't hold for long. We do have a lot of leaves, as we live near an arboretum, and have a lot of trees. I will be collecting leaves for composting, and now for mulching.
I wonder if I can do the overwinter here in zone 5
Zone 5 is chilly! If you dig it up and move it to a sheltered location in full sun and plant it 3”-5” deeper and add 18” leafs it might work. Good luck
Do they survive a frost in zone 9..?
I have many subscribers that grow this wonderful Salvia in zone 9 and report it to survive in ground year round. I would recommend it receive a few light frosts before you cut it back to about 12” above ground. Then add a layer of leafs and you are all set. In colder climates a thicker layer is recommended. In 6b I encourage the root to be dug up and stored in a cold greenhouse or cool basement.
Good luck.
@@PlantedwithIanCooke Thank you.
Hello, I just bought one, it is beautiful, is it edible? thank you
I have no knowledge if you can eat it. I grow it for its prolific flower production
What is the difference between amistad and black and bloom ? I live in 8b and black and bloom comes back every year . I’ve taken several cuttings in spring and made several more from my original plant .
Greg - it’s called Salvia Black and Blue although your name is a good one. They have a similar habit 4+ feet tall but Amistad is a dark purple. Black and Blue has paler blue flowers with black whorls. I recommend you grow both.
I will certainly try amistad , thanks !
There is a black and blue , but I have the newer variety black and bloom . It’s an improved variety of black and blue . Darker stems and blooms here from mid April into late November nonstop . It’s an incredible variety that I ordered from Whites Flowers in Connecticut. I’ve made many cuttings over the last four years . It’s a hummingbird magnet for sure .
White Flower Farm in Torrington, CT
Check it out on the Monrovia or White Flower Farm websites . Your gonna want this one !
Man that was totally not what I expected to see ( in the good sense) also got a bonus tip to eat fresh fruit 😂👍
Can you buy seeds?
Many plants grow true to type when grown from seeds. However, many seeds
display what is called ‘seedling variability’, they can exhibit slight differences from the original. Salvia Amistad is believed to be a naturally occurring hybrid found in Argentina. This hybrid back ground would further increase the variability and you may end up with a weak plant.
I recommend you find a plant and take lots of cuttings. I would not rely on growing it from seed.
Sir , you certainly have a beautiful girl please keep up the good work
I am glad you like it. Do you have one ?
I have not had luck with them in the past