Leaving the stalks of some perennials to dry and stand over the winter can be rewarding for both wildlife as a place of shelter (I’ve found insects overwintering amongst salvia stalks for example) and visually in snow and frost, maintaining structure through the dormant months. Phlomis russeliana is one of the more useful plants in this respect, as it also has evergreen leaves (at least in milder areas of the UK).
