Salvia palaestina is a herbaceous perennial native to a wide area including Palestine, and is also native to Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, the Sinai peninsula and northeastern Egypt.[1] [2] It was named and described by George Bentham in 1835, with the specific epithet (palaestina) referring to its geographical distribution "in Palæstinæ montibus inter Gaza et Jerusalem", or the mountains between Gaza and Jerusalem.[3] [4]
S. palaestina grows in a wide variety of habitats, between 1000to elevation. It was introduced into horticulture in the 1990s. The plant grows 1to tall, with an upright habit and many square stems growing from basal roots. The mid-green rugose leaves vary in shape and size, with light hairs on both sides, and glands that release a scent when rubbed or crushed. The 12inches inflorescences grow candelabrum-like at the top of the stems, with 4–6 flowers per whorl. The 0.5inches flowers are straight and tubular, ranging in color from white to pale lilac.[2]
. George Bentham. Labiatarum Genera et Species: or, a description of the genera and species of plants of the order labiatae. 1 August 2010. 1832–1836. James Ridgway & Sons. Piccadilly. 561.