Anyone know what this is?

[Shenanagins]

It’s about 2 foot high and just seems to have appeared. Vaguely remember something being there last summer but not at this height.

Looks likes ricinus - false castle oil plant. The plant they make ricin from.

It could be! Don’t recall planting it but do recall a small shrub there last summer which had lovely pinkish/purplish flowers. The plant disappeared over winter but is flourishing in a very soggy corner in clay soil.
Thanks!

I think it’s an astilbe which like damp soil. Ricin is an annual in the UK and the flower is different, also it’s not hardy so wouldn’t over winter.

The astilbe flowers in the pictures do look like the ones I remember!

We have had a harsh winter with a lot of snow and frost so it would need to be hardy to have survived that.
Thanks!

This is Filipendula rubra Venusta in my garden this morning. A big form of meadowsweet. Gets to about 120cm with pink fluffy flower heads

Gosh I hope not as according to rhs it can grow to 2.5m high 😮!

Well I’ve had it for years and its never got above 4 or 5 ft. It’s lovely though, and doesn’t flop or need staking