What's this?

looks like a type of salvia but not sure. some one will be able to help you out.

Is it a penestemon?

i thought that going by the leaf but the flower head looks too 'hooded' for a penstemon.

thought it looked a bit like an aconitum except for the colour, and the leaves are wrong..

thanks, their opening up now and I think they are penstemon.

Could also be an Angelonia?. Those leaves look sub alternate and the opening flower buds look very like it.