cross-shaped leaves

[Diane Whitehead]

This has just started flowering.  The flowers are in a group at the top of the stem.

The leaves are opposite, long and narrow with tiny green ones next to the stem.  Each pair of leaves is opposite to the one below, so when you look down on them, they all form a +.

The flower stems are sticky.

[Carolyn]

Some sort of penstemon, surely?

[Diane Whitehead]

I thought so, but I have scrutinized my two penstemon books and can't find any with similar leaves.

[arisaema]

If it's not Penstemon, then what about one of the Physostegia?

[Diane Whitehead]

I've discovered what it isn't.

 It is a seedling from NARGS seed labelled as Penstemon kunthii,  from southern Mexico.  The leaves look right, but the flowers should have been long and bright red, so it must have crossed in the donor's garden.

I have another half dozen plants yet to flower.  Maybe one will have red flowers.