Salvia subpalmatinervis is a perennial plant that is native to Yunnan province in China, found growing in thickets, forests, and hilly grasslands at elevation. S. subpalmatinervis grows on one to three erect stems to tall, with mostly basal leaves that are ovate to circular.
Inflorescences are 2âÂÂ6-flowered verticillasters in terminal racemes that are . The corolla is purplish or blue-purple and .