Salvia handelii is a perennial plant that is native to Sichuan province in China, growing on grassy slopes on limestone mountains at elevation. S. handelii grows on one or two ascending stems to tall. The leaves are broadly ovate-triangular to subcircular, ranging in size from long and wide. Inflorescences are in terminal racemes or raceme-panicles up to , with a green-white corolla with violet spots that is .