Salvia japonica, known as East Asian sage, is an annual plant that is native to several provinces in China and Taiwan, growing at elevation. S. japonica grows on erect stems to 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 .
There are two named varieties, with slight variations in leaf and flower shape: S. japonica var. japonica and S. japonica var. multifoliolata.