Salvia spathacea

A Californian native, this can spread rapidly by underground rhizomes. 3ft. flowering stems appear above the sticky foliage at any time from late spring to mid-summer, and the deep red flowers are in whorls, like those of other Californian salvias. It is reputedly hardy to -10 degrees, but good drainage in winter is essential. I once kept this plant in a large pot over-winter in the greenhouse, where it remained evergreen, and flowering started in April. There are several forms of S. spathacea cultivated in the USA, a particularly good one is 'Kawatre'