Biennial or perennial herb to 1 m tall. Leaves ovate to oblong, to about 25 cm long, 12 cm wide, smaller up the stem, grey-woolly, strongly scented, base cordate or surrounding the stem, stalked or not, margin shallowly cut and/or bristled. Flowers in long, well-separated verticillasters, each of 2-6 flowers; spring to summer. Corolla to 3 cm long, mostly creamy white, rarely lilac, pink or blue.

C Asia to Europe

Long grown for its essential oils.

The different flower colours may be sold under cultivar names.

var. turkestanica Mottet is a larger plant with pink bracts.

Source: Garnett, L.; Ellis, G.; Spencer, R.; Templeton, S. (2002). Salvia. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.