Salvia cyanescens is a perennial shrub native to Iran and Turkey, and was introduced to horticulture in 1959. It freely hybridizes in its native habitat with Salvia candidissima

Salvia candidissima

Salvia candidissima is a herbaceous perennial native throughout western Greece, and parts of Turkey, Iraq, and Iran, generally between 2000-6500 feet elevation. Several small stems grow almost horizontally from the roots before bearing upright inflorescences. The plant reaches 3 ft in height and...

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In mild climates it is evergreen, growing into 1 ft clumps. The gray-green leaves are 2 in long by 1 in wide and covered with hairs. It blooms in summer and late autumn, with delicate 1 in purple-violet flowers growing on 1 ft candelabra-like inflorescences. The epithet, cyanescens, means 'bluish', which is not entirely accurate regarding the flower.