An upright, bushy evergreen to semi-evergreen subshrub or shrubby perennial with ovate, aromatic, mid- to dark green leaves and, from late summer into autumn, dark purple stems bearing upright racemes of whorled, two-lipped, bright red flowers with dark purple calyces.
Height 60cm (2ft), Spread 50cm (1.5ft), 5-10 years to maturity.