Silversurfer said:
It sort of reminds me of a New Zealand plant I know.
I knew it as Hebe hulkeana but checking www I see it is now called Veronica hulkeana.
Maybe worth checking.
Evergreen/opposite leaves,/margins toothed/ pretty flowers in lax panicles or raceme.
Thanks, I think that's it! The leaves are very similar, including the purple edge, and what I could see of the faded flowers looks like loose panicles. Plus there's my whole general feel of something related to hebe about this plant.
NZ plants generally grow well in the Irish climate. It's odd though because I have never seen this here, a quick look around plant suppliers doesn't show it for sale anywhere, and this is in a garden that otherwise has only fairly common plants.
I'll just have to ask the owner of the garden to take a picture of it in flower.
