Salvia namaensis is an evergreen perennial shrub native to a limited area in Namibia and a wide area of South Africa (the Cape Provinces and the Free State). It is typically found growing on rocky slopes, shales, limestone hills, and sandy soils at 1,000 to 5,000 feet elevation. The specific epithet namaensis probably refers to the Nama tribe which is indigenous to Namaqualand, the region in Namibia where the plant grows.