Salvia can be annuals, biennials, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, or shrubs. They have paired, simple or pinnately lobed, often aromatic leaves and 2-lipped flowers in whorls, forming simple or branched spikes or racemes
S. patens is an herbaceous perennial to 1m, with ovate to triangular leaves to 20cm in length, and 2-lipped blue flowers 5cm in length, forming a large, open panicle