Salvia alba is an annual or perennial herb that is native to southern Bolivia and northern Argentina, growing in the Tucuman-Bolivian forest belt in disturbed areas of semi-shaded moist woodland. In modern times it has been seen growing at 1000 to 2100 m (3,280.8 to 6,889.8 ft) elevation, though there are records of a wider range of growth.

S. alba is short-lived, upright, and many-branched, reaching approximately 1.5 metres (4.9 ft), though it is often shorter, with mature plants frequently insect-eaten. Petiolate leaves are ovate or ovate-elliptic, 4 to 14 cm (1.6 to 5.5 in) by 2 to 10 cm (0.78740157480315 to 3.9 in). The inflorescence of terminal racemes, with 4-16 verticillasters, is 4 to 16 cm (1.6 to 6.3 in) long. The 10 to 12 mm (0.393700787401575 to 0.47244094488189 in) corolla is pure white.