Stems decumbent to suberect, to 100 cm. Inflorescences con­gested spikes; bracts narrowly lanceolate; internodes shorter than subtending flowers. Flowers: petals usually with bright red spot mid blade, 20–35 mm; ovary cylindrical, 2–5 mm wide, 4-grooved; stigma exserted beyond anthers. 2n = 14.

Flowering Jun–Aug. Open slopes and bluffs near coast; 0–100 m; Calif.

Subsp. amoena is found primarily in the North Coast and North Coast Ranges, and in the San Francisco Bay and Central Coast regions south to Monterey County.