It sounds like Diarama . . . if so, you've done well with it. Any chance of a photo?

Don't think Diarama can be propagated from cuttings as they're a monocot (similar to grasses)....was you thinking of Dicentra ? How tall is "tall" ?

Photo would be useful

Ah - you're right about the cuttings Badfish. Dicentra seems more likely . . .

I should have said the lady on the stall told me it was a type of 'tender tobacco plant' and it certainly has a nicotiana leaf. It grows about two and a half feet tall but the blooms don't look like the ordinary nicotiana at all and it certainly isn't sylvestris. It has branching stems with tiny individual bells so I can see why it sounded like diorama. I like it a lot and don't want to lose it and if it is a biennial it is probably at the end of the road. I'm sorry I don't have a photo but if it survives and blooms again this summer I will take some. I just thought someone on here would have it and know about it. Thank you for answering!

Hi, could it be a variety of N glauca, which is a fast growing, semi evergreen shrub, with long, arching, smooth, glaucus shoots, it has a height and spread of 8 - 10 ft, but is frost tender, Derek.

I just looked up Nicotiana at the bottom of this page, under 'N' of course, and found N. Suaveolens . . . maybe it's that Penny? (we're all dying to solve the mystery, lol)

I've just looked up at the bottom and I don't think it's suaveolens, Sheila, as those flowers are more starry I think, but it could just be the angle. Mine also has green 'fins' up the stems if that description makes sense. I thought the individual blooms seemed to change colour through red, pink and white although I'm not sure in which order! Anyway, whether they actually change or not, those 3 colours all appear on the same plant. (I'm beginning to doubt my own eyes now, as well as my memory!)

It may be Nicotiana mutabilis. This grows to 4 or 5 feet eventually and had pink and white flowers together on the same branches...hence the 'mutabilis' bit of the name. It can be kept going over winter if it is a small plant but is very easy from seed each Spring or also it seeds itself around.

Thank you Derek for that idea, however I now think that Volunteer is right because the description fits best. I'm really pleased to think it might seed itself around but I suppose this would mean digging them up and bringing them into the back porch for the winter. I'm going to look it up now and see whether there is a picture, but I'm fairly sure it is N mutabilis.

Yes! That's it! N mutabilis, although mine were more sparse and the red was much deeper. They do change colour! My eyes didn't deceive me! I'm not going mad after all!
Thanks again.