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Salvia cuspidata

Salvia cuspidata

Ruiz & Pav.
Salvia de la Puna

Family: Lamiaceae
Order: Lamiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Phylum / Division: Magnoliophyta
Kingdom: Plantae

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Other common names: Salvia Morada.





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Description


Salvia cuspidata is a species of perennial shrub in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to the Andes mountains in Bolivia, Chile, and Peru, growing at elevations up to 10000 ft.

Salvia cuspidata subsp. gilliesii, originally named Salvia gilliesii by George Bentham in 1873, was renamed Salvia cuspidata subsp. gilliesii in 2007. It has been only recently that gardeners have discovered the plant. It has been grown and distributed on the French Riviera since 1994 and in the U.S. since 2002.

Salvia cuspidata subsp. gilliesii reaches up to 9 ft in its native habitat—somewhat less in cultivation. New stems in early spring are light green and square, quickly becoming rounded, woody, and a soft gray color. The many upright stems in a small space give the plant a tall, airy appearance. The lanceolate-shaped, serrated leaves are graduated in size, with white undersides that have pronounced veining, and lightly cover the plant. There are 3–6 flowers in well-spaced whorls on branched inflorescences. The small flowers are long, and are a deep sky-blue with a purple undertone, held in a tiny calyx that is purple on the side turned to the sun and green underneath. The upper lip has a whitish dusting, the wider lower lip has two white lines that lead insects to the nectar.

Source: Wikipedia, article Salvia cuspidata. Content adapted from Wikipedia, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Accessed on 17/07/2026.





Geographic distribution


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Species photographs

Count: 22

Foto
Photography ID: 692016
  Adult

Pampa de la Viuda
La Rioja
Argentina
01/30/2021
Ramón Vera
Foto
Photography ID: 685969
  Adult

El Saladillo
La Rioja
Argentina
05/08/2026
Ramón Vera
Foto
Photography ID: 674032
  Adult

Santa Lucía
Tucumán
Argentina
02/10/2024
Viviana Fuentes
Foto
Photography ID: 667015
  Adult

General Alvear
Mendoza
Argentina
01/02/2026
Hugo Alberto Valderrey
Foto
Photography ID: 658653
  Adult

Caspala
Jujuy
Argentina
04/08/2025
Diego Carus
Foto
Photography ID: 632002
  Adult

Abra Pampa
Jujuy
Argentina
04/12/2025
Diego Carus
Foto
Photography ID: 614913
  Adult

Tafí del Valle
Tucumán
Argentina
12/11/2024
Diego Carus
Foto
Photography ID: 601846
  Adult

Iruya
Salta
Argentina
02/23/2022
Maria Belén Dri
Foto
Photography ID: 601773
  Adult

Yavi
Jujuy
Argentina
02/20/2022
Maria Belén Dri
Foto
Photography ID: 583367
♂ ♀
  Adult

Cabana, Unquillo
Córdoba
Argentina
05/11/2024
Manuel Eduardo Serra



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Species reports



 Detail of places sorted by number of records






Species records

Count: 25



Page 1 of 3
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
246865408/05/2026ArgentinaLa RiojaParque Arqueológico El Saladillo, El SaladilloRamón Vera
247744514/04/2026ArgentinaLa RiojaAntinaco, Departamento FamatinaFederico Carlos Izasa
241505102/01/2026ArgentinaMendozaGeneral Alvear, periferia de la ciudad, General AlvearHugo Alberto Valderrey
240660712/12/2025ArgentinaTucumánAcceso los Cardones, Parque Provincial Cumbres CalchaquíesMaria Belén Dri
240573012/12/2025ArgentinaTucumánAcceso los Cardones, Parque Provincial Cumbres CalchaquíesDiego Carus
227911612/04/2025ArgentinaJujuyLaguna del Huancar, Abra PampaMaria Belén Dri
227903512/04/2025ArgentinaJujuyLaguna del Huancar, Abra PampaDiego Carus
238183108/04/2025ArgentinaJujuyCaspalaDiego Carus
221066411/12/2024ArgentinaTucumánCerro El Pelao, Tafí del ValleDiego Carus
203208711/05/2024ArgentinaCórdobaReserva Natural Los Quebrachitos, Cabana, UnquilloManuel Eduardo Serra
Page 1 of 3

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Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Salvia cuspidata – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 08/10/2026.