Some sort of Penstemon. I don't know them very well.

Might be Penstamon 'Huskers' Red' that was grown in the shade.

I've never cut mine back to the ground, but I cut off the flower stems when it's through blooming, and it looks a lot neater. Since it's a fairly early bloomer, it always amazes me that it does nothing after being cut back but sit there and look the same the rest of the summer. Mine is Penstemon 'Dark Towers' but has much darker foliage than yours.

My first thought when I saw the picture earlier today was penstemon but since I grow 'Mystica' the green foliage made me question if that was what it was. 'Mystica' foliage is darker green with dark red edges.

I do nothing to my many penstemons since I often harvest seeds once they're ripe. If you don't plan to grow more plants from seed, it's okay to cut the flower stems off for a tidier garden look. All my plants have been reliably hardy for the past 6 years.