Colquhounia coccinea 'Nepalese Flame'

Scarlet Flowered Colquhounia Lamiaceae

Himalayan shrub that clearly misunderstood the brief about subtle autumn colour. Collected by Tony Schilling in 1980 from the Milke Danda, Nepal, at an impressive 2740m, Schilling 2458 spent more than 30 years circulating under its collection number before finally being named ‘Nepalese Flame’ by Pan Global Plants in 2024. 

A vigorous, upright shrub with aromatic, slightly felted foliage and spectacular terminal clusters of intensely coloured scarlet and yellow tubular flowers, it looks rather like a Buddleja until it decides to flower — at which point it resembles a giant Salvia having a particularly good day. Flowering from August into November in a good year, it is excellent for extending the season of colour. Best in full sun and well-drained soil, and remarkably hardy for a plant from the Himalaya; established plants at Yorkshire Arboretum have survived being cut to the ground by hard frost and returned vigorously the following spring. 

Collection: Schilling 2458, Milke Danda, Nepal, 2740m, 1980
Named: Pan Global Plants, 2024
Flowering: August–November
Hardiness: H4, (–5 to –10°C)
Height: 2–3m
Spread: 1.5–2m