1 to 5 feet tall. Inflorescence a long dense spike, contining many flowerheads. Each flowerhead containing 5 to 60 small, tubular, 5-lobed, brilliant red-purple flowers. Leaves are very long and narrow, almost grass-like.

Very showy plant, frequently cultivated. Native to our area, but not to the Park. The plants in the Park were planted as part of the Butterfly Meadows project back in 2000-2003. The plant is now becoming rare, crowded out by other plants.

The dense purple spikes are unmistakeable.