For three years in a row I've planted annual Blue Salvias. This year In the hopes of reducing the number of annuals to plant each year, I planted a couple of perennial "May Night" Salvias. I was so disappointed that I've thrown them out. The leaves were huge, floppy, unattractive and the flowering didn't last all that long, were also floppy and unattractive.

Did I choose the wrong perennial? Here is a picture of my annuals that I adore. Can I get the same thing with a perennial?

Those annuals do look good. I have several perennial salvias that always look like crap.

I have been culling them.

I would say, stick with your annuals.

I have grown many salvias and no two look the same.
best to stick with what you have

frankrichards16 said:Those annuals do look good. I have several perennial salvias that always look like crap.
I have been culling them.
I would say, stick with your annuals.

My annual salvias always put on a better show, that any "blue" or purple salvia.

One exception is the tender perennial Pineapple Sage, (Salvia elegans) not blue but a beautiful red. It flowers in fall. I just moved it, so I am not sure it will flower this year, but if it does, I will post it. I have lost several of them previously, to what I thought was winter chill. I had to dig it out of a raised bed as it had grown so large, so it likes well-drained soil. I put it in the "Hot Bed", so we will see how well it does. It certainly got well-established in two years. Some winters, my annual blue salvias live over, if the frost isn't too severe and long-lasting. (Petunias, too!)

I got "Caradonna" this year and it seems that it is getting bigger and bigger. Next year will show. The only negative thing about it the color of flowers are too dark for my liking, almost too hard to see, so I have to plant something silvery behind - or white to make it shine.

Salvia nemorosa 'Sensation Sky Blue', 2018 photo, Common Name: Woodland Sage, Size: 12x12in, Sky Blue, USDA Hardiness Zone 3, Michigan Bloom Month 5-8, In Garden Bed E4 for 6.4 YEARS (Lowe). Planted in 2012.

Compact, blue and vigorous. It looks good for a couple of weeks in June, then for the rest of the year it does not. I had 6 plants. I will probably cull.

https://www.flickr.com/search/...

Even though I prefer perennials, I am certainly getting salvia Amistad nest year. I was very impressed to see it in person and will try to get cuttings in the fall for overwintering.

My perennial salvias kick butt.

Not sure whether yall could grow them up in yankee country though...
You might have to dig them up and bring indoors, like I do with the salvia coccinea.
Almost defeats the purpose, though...

try growing some of the salvia microphylla (zone 7-11)... I'm especially partial to 'hot lips'...
Salvia guaranitica is another no-brainer in my garden... zone 8-10...

So... do you have a south facing window or 3? Be worth trying to grow in containers.