This evergreen shrub is displaying attractive flowers on the Systematic Beds.
Belonging to the mint family (Lamiaceae) Colquhounia coccinea is from grasslands of the Himalaya. It has square, downy stems; simple, gently serrated aromatic leaves; and eye-catching tubular flowers. C. coccinea grows to 2.5m, and is semi-hardy, and growth may be damaged in a hard winter, so it is best grown in a sheltered location in full sun. The genus takes its name from Robert Colquhoun (a nineteenth century patron of the Calcutta Botanic Garden), and the specific name coccinea refers to the scarlet flowers.