Salvia cavaleriei is an herb that is native to Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces in China, growing in forests, on hillsides, and streamsides at 500 to 2,700 m (1,600 to 8,900 ft) elevation. S. cavaleriei is a short, robust plant reaching 12 to 32 cm (4.7 to 12.6 in) tall. Inflorescences are widely spaced 2-6 flowered verticillasters in terminal racemes or panicles, with a blue-purple to purple-red or white corolla that is approximately .8 cm (0.31 in).