Salvia yunnanensis is a perennial plant that is native to Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces in China, found growing on grassy hillsides, forest margins, and dry forests at 1,800 to 2,900 m (5,900 to 9,500 ft) elevation. S. yunnanensis has tuberous roots and grows on erect stems to 30 cm (12 in) tall, with simple oblong-elliptic leaves that are 2 to 8 cm (0.79 to 3.15 in) long and 1.5 to 3.5 cm (0.59 to 1.38 in) wide.