Can I hard prune Hotlips now?

[CassandraProphesying]

Thanks to some over exuberant fox cubs playing in my flower bed (got it on camera, so cute, so forgiving them!) one of my previously quite large Hotlips salvias has been sort of chopped in half. They landed right in the middle of it and snapped most of the central branches so I’m left with two halves that are quite messy and threadbare due to so many missing branches.
I have noticed that the lower central section has got some new green growth coming through though.
So if I pruned it low and tidied the shape up would it survive and possibly flower again this year or is it just best to leave it til dormant and do it then?

Hi, yes I'd give it a trim now.
They're quite tough and it'll grow back and flower.
When I had lots of hot lips plants I used to give them a hair cut mid summer deliberately every year. It keeps the plant from getting straggly and gives you more flowers towards the end of the season. You're just a bit early, it'll be fine!

I love them but I have a shady garden now

Oh good - I’ll give it a go then. I’ve planted so much in the last few years but I’m very much a trial and error gardener rather than a knowledge one but I’d still like to not accidentally kill anything if at all possible!

It's not that much later than the Chelsea Chop. Given a reasonable summer (ha!) I'd expect them to flower again.

Right, I’ll definitely try it then fingers crossed!