Salvia chinensis is an annual plant that is native to several provinces in China, growing in forests, and in tufts of grass on hillsides or plains at 100 to 500 m (330 to 1,640 ft) elevation. S. chinensis grows on stems that are erect or prostrate to a height of 20 to 60 cm (7.9 to 23.6 in). Inflorescences are 6-flowered verticillasters in terminal racemes or panicles, with a 1 cm (0.39 in) blue-purple or purple corolla.