Salvia japonica, known as East Asian sage, is an annual plant that is native to several provinces in China and Taiwan, growing at 200 to 1,200 m elevation. S. japonica grows on erect stems to 40 to 60 cm tall. Inflorescences are 2-6 flowered verticillasters in terminal racemes or panicles, with a corolla that varies in color from reddish, purplish, bluish, to white, and is approximately 1.2 cm (0.47 in).