Salvia longispicata is a perennial shrub native to southwestern Mexico, growing between 1,000 and 6,500 feet (300 and 2,000 m) elevation.

While not particularly showy, it has unusual dark purple flowers and an upright habit—both qualities are valued by salvia hybridizers.

Small - less than 0.5 inches (1 cm) - dark purple flowers begin appearing in summer and bloom into late autumn.

The 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) inflorescences have tight whorls of flowers, which do not rise above the foliage as many other species of Salvia do.

[2] In 1979 a spontaneous sterile hybrid was found at Huntington Library that was believed to be from a cross between Salvia longispicata and S. farinacea.