Can you identify this wild flower?

[FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue]

Seen on open grassland in southern England. It's quite tall, say 4 foot high.

Rosebay willowherb in the UK, fireweed in the US

Rosebay willow herb, very common in rough pasture and roadsides.

Oh! OK thanks. My DS thought it was 'fireweed' but I hadn't heard of that. I have heard of rosebay willow herb, but didn't know what it looked like. He tells me the shoots are edible.

Spreads like wildfire too, so don't be tempted to grow some in your garden.

Yes, you can eat the shoots. it's a common pioneer species after disruptions, hence fireweed.

One of the food plants for the caterpillar of the Elephant Hawk Moth, which is an incredibly beautiful thing in shades of pink and olive green with a wing span of more than two inches.

I think they used to be called singers in one part of England because they grew rampantly on the site of a burned down Singers factory.

@MereDintofPandiculation

One of the food plants for the caterpillar of the Elephant Hawk Moth, which is an incredibly beautiful thing in shades of pink and olive green with a wing span of more than two inches.

That's fab to know! I saw one the other day and wondered what was around it was feeding on x

Wow, this thread has got more interesting than I expected! Thanks everyone.

Isn't fireweed another name for the same plant? Possibly American ?