By Tinwill
United Kingdom 
Hello, I wonder whether anybody there can identify this flower for me please? I have had the plant for some years, growing in a large pot. The branches are quite brittle but the flowers are really pretty - pinky/bluey mauve. They grow on the end of the stems, and the leaves are long and thin. I have tried umpteen online plant identifiers but cannot find anything similar anywhere. Can you help me please?
11 Jul, 2014
Answers
I think Oliveoil is right - but the only one I can find that's very similar is Penstemon 'Sweet Joanne' - the colour of the flower seems to vary somewhat between examples of this plant, some being more pink, some more bluish. Google it and look at Images.
11 Jul, 2014
Thank you very much - you're right - the flowers DO look like Penstemon. I didn't even think of that because the plant has a sprawling habit, but maybe that's because it's growing in a pot? Do Penstemons get woody brittle stems after a few years? I've never had one (that I knew of!) so am not familiar with their growing habits.
11 Jul, 2014
Penstemon 'Blue Springs' ??? or maybe 'Catherine De La Mer'
11 Jul, 2014
Yes they do get woody stems. I cut mine back too severely a couple of years back, into the wood and finished it off.
11 Jul, 2014
Thanks for the tip Cammomile - I'll bear that in mind! And it is definitely "Catherine de la Mer" - so beautiful - thanks for the pointer Badfish!
13 Jul, 2014
Looks like a pentemon to me as well. They are really easy to take cuttings, just plant several in a pot then if you cut the original back too hard and loose it then you have a replacement.
13 Jul, 2014
Looks a bit like a Penstemon but not sure. Very pretty colour :O)
11 Jul, 2014