Although quite mature here, if I am not mistaken these unfold from an elongated diamond like shell ?

Leaves remind me of Phlomis
or maybe a salvia

Could that be an old badly pruned Phlomis fruticosa? Or something related...

My first thought was Phlomis fruticosa too. But those petioles are so long. The Phlomis I am familiar with have clasping leaves or very short petioles. Just saying 🤷🏼‍♂️. May be a function of age, care or conditions.

Kelly, I'm not certain either. The flaky-barked stems are more what led me in that direction. Sure would like to be able to smell a leaf.

@aleema could clarify what you mean by "...these unfold from an elongated diamond like shell"?

Phlomis purpurea maybe?

More likely. It's got the longer petioles and the same flaky bark. I've never actually seen the P. purpurea in person.

@NMoasis : the plant would be in a cocoon, kind of like an elongated diamond shape, of which it would sprout.

But that was from memory.

Thanks Aleema. Doesn't sound familiar.

Coincidentally, I was shopping on Annies Annuals and came across this plant. Looks surprisingly like the plant in question.
Sideritis oroteneriffae
https://www.anniesannuals.com/...

Interesting. Gorgeous plant. Subtropical, native to Canary Islands. Evergreen in the UK? I'm not finding a lot of information about. The pix and info in our database and other sites seem to be lifted from Annie's Annuals.
https://www.smgrowers.com/prod...

@HamiltonSquare has uploaded pictures of both the Phlomis and Sideritis to the database and perhaps may be able to help.

Hard to tell from this photo. The flowers would help. I'd guess Phlomis.

NMoasis said: The pix and info in our database and other sites seem to be lifted from Annie's Annuals.
plant_id=4336

Not lifted, I asked Annie in person when I was at the nursery years ago and she gave permission to add them, credit given in all the captions.

Sue, I didn't mean to imply "stolen" — I do know you get permission to post photos from other sources. I just meant there was a shortage of independent information and photos for that plant because I could see that the Annie's photos were being used (and credited) on other websites.

So sorry for the misunderstanding. Probably not the best choice of words.

@KellyFW : "Sideritis Oroteneriffae" seemed promising, but perhaps not in the current British winter climate ?

This is Phlomis cashmeriana. Sad shape here not sure why i kept this photo but it's shows several similarities.


Edited to add that some of the photos in the DB may be Phlomis samia?

@HamiltonSquare : That's pretty close.

In the end it wasn't the plant I thought it may have been ?

Sideritis oroteneriffae? It's covered top to bottom, stems and all, in a white felt like coat. It's common same is "Canary Island White Sage"

@HamiltonSquare : your original photo was a better match, as the second differs with its stem covered in felt also, which mine does not.

It's likely Phlomis Cashmeriana over Sideritis Oroteneriffae in that case ?