Salvia scapiformis is an herb that is native to several provinces in China, along with Taiwan and the Philippines, growing at 100 to 1,200 m elevation. S. scapiformis grows on slender stems to 20 to 26 cm tall, with mostly simple leaves that are basal or subbasal, rarely growing on the stem. Inflorescences are widely spaced 6–10-flowered verticillasters in terminal racemes or panicles that are 10 to 20 cm long. The corolla is purple or white, approximately 7 mm (0.28 in).