Salvia problems

Hi
I have a couple of salvia - hot lips in my garden but they were getting too big. I cut them back pretty hard and one has come back nicely but the other grew what I think are called ‘water shoots’? I’ve cut these back again but it’s now looking like the photo. I think these might be more water shoots but I’m not sure, they seem very fast growing. Does anyone have any suggestions? I’ve probably done the completely wrong thing!

 

They look like like strong and healthy new shoots to me. If it were mine I'd leave them.
I've never heard of water shoots on a salvia before...
Got plenty on one of my apple trees though

 

I have never heard of the expression "water shoots" associated with salvias either.
I agree with @Pete8 , they look fine to me

I would leave the plant alone now until late Spring, when hopefully it will have survived the worst that the Winter can throw at it. You can then do any tidying up of dead areas etc.

 

It looks healthy to me, but it might not flower on that new growth this year. If you want more plants those new shoots would make great cuttings!

 

Thank you, I’ll leave them and see. Yeah, the shoots went crazy, up to about 3ft in a couple of weeks, strong lovely looking shoots but totally different to the usual plant, big leaves and no flowers. It took me a lot of Googling to discover it does sometimes happen with salvias. I’d never heard of it at all before. Good luck with your apple tree

 

Great idea, I’ll give that a go.

 

The picture you've provided isn't a salvia , the biggest give away is the shape of the stems they should be square. I looks to be a fine specimen of Salix caprea

 

I agree with @Perki . I can't see a salvia in that pic - but it does look suspiciously like that willow.
Unfortunately.

 

I can see it now

 

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I had spent the morning faffing about with shrubby salvias. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it..

 

@AnniD -I never do that...honest guv.....

I forget what I've done an hour previously, so trying to remember what I did in the garden the previous day[ for that thread] is almost impossible! I've just been outside to check on something and remembered various things I'd done that I hadn't mentioned on it.