any ideas on what variety if indeed a salvia ?

Linaria purpurea. There are some with different colours which have been given a name.

https://www.google.co.uk/searc...

hmmm ... the last couple plants I found near me just showing up out of the blue were suspected UK in origin ... whats up with that JRsBugs

It's native to Italy, grows wild in western North America. You're more eastern, but the seeds are sold. I bought seeds, they didn't grow so I tipped the compost on part of the garden, they grew I think at least two years later then spread around. I like them, they don't live for long but you will always get more plants from either seed or sometimes from a runner. Bees love it, it attracts species you wouldn't normally see.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

Italian native ... hmmm so sorry for pokin at you then ;} after talking to a neighbor I came to find it was a windblown seed most likely from some neglected forgotten plant ... she had bought it years back and decided she didn't like it . I think it looks good so I will work with it for a while since I like the unusual and what it attracts . many thanks for the ID

'sOK. Everyone to their own but it's difficult to imagine not liking this plant.