Does anyone recognise this plant please?

[woodbeez55]

We've just moved to a new house and I don't recognise this plant in the garden at all. We'd like to prune it because it's taking over a bench it's next to, but don't want to damage it if it's the wrong time. I did try using one of the apps to identify it but not sure what they're telling me is correct! Thanks in advance :)

Possibly a penstemon?

Looks like possibly a not cutback penstemon to me but the laves seem a bit too shiny. I cut penstemon back to the ground in late October.

I would guess that’s either a neglected penstemon or wallflower.
Wait and see if it flowers!
If it’s penstemon or a wallflower it should flower in May

My guess is also penstemon. Cut back now to new growth at the base of each stem.

www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=406

Penstemon or budleia
Can withstand a hard cut, crap soil and freezing and warm temperatures.

Another vote for Penstemon - I’ve just dug one up that looked very similar.

Thanks so much everyone for your help. The app was saying it was a cistus! I will heed your advice to cut it back now. I've had penstemon in the past but they've never flourished like this one. It just goes to show ;)

Variety of Hebe?

The app was saying it was a cistus! Well, that's apps for you.

@MereDintofPandiculation

The app was saying it was a cistus! Well, that's apps for you.

Yes indeed! I'd never used one before so wasn't sure that it was right, and now that most people are saying Penstemon, I recognise it from having had some in the past :) I'll be deleting that app now!

The apps work by matching the picture of your plant to other pictures, just as if you gave your non-gardening DH a picture of your plant and the results of a google search on, say, “red flower”, and told him to find a match. They don’t have any plant knowledge, not even enough to say “I’m not quite sure of this “