This is a superb little shrub, which is related to salvias. Delicate, deep purple-blue flowers dangling from the erect branches like little ornaments are this shrub’s best feature. This multi-stemmed, woody, perennial shrub can reach a height of 3 m, but more often only achieves half that height. The leaves are hairy and gland-dotted, dull to dark green, paler underneath. The bush violet has a long flowering period through summer, with showy, deep blue or pale to dark mauve flowers, centred with bright yellow stamens. The base of the flower is enclosed by a green, bulbous calyx. While not quite free-flowering, the flowers do appear scattered attractively all over the shrub as they are borne at the ends of the many branches. The calyx enlarges and inflates to enclose the winged fruit, which is a bladder-like nutlet, green with a purplish tinge. Tinnea is relatively slow growing and can be regarded as rare because of its extremely restricted distribution.