What is this monster?

[TowandaForever]

Thought it was a primrose?!

Hmm. Is it spiky? Could be a teasel if it is.

Looks a bit teasel- like to me, too.

Horseradish?

Are you sure it's not a weed.

Ooh a teasel !! I think 🤔

It may well be a weed!

Not spiky.

Teasel? You'll get fluffy purple flowers for the bees then goldfinches will eat the seeds in autumn. I always keep a handful for the height and because they're so beneficial to wildlife
It will self seed like mad, but as it takes a year before it really gets going there easy to spot and weed out.

Teasel.

They can be thugs but great for wildlife. I've got a few in one part of my garden. I've designated the border under my blackberry Bush as a 'thugery' so it's full of teasel, comfrey, alpine strawberries, chives etc. So they can all try and compete with each other.

Are the leaves not a bit spiky on the underside?
It's a lovely teasel. So good for wildlife, but grow massive.

Found some spikes!

Looks like a Bertram to me.

Don't brush past it with bare legs then OP, it can be vicious.

Here's one of mine for comparison

Teazel.

If you leave it to grow, flower and eventually shed it's seeds then you will probably always have teazels. The finches will love you for it!

I just remembered I got quite obsessed when I first had them and started this thread.

I do love teasel, but I suspect that that path might not be the best place for it, unfortunately.
Can you relocate or can you not get to the root?

Don't think I'll get to the root as it's in a crack in the steps

It's a fine specimen!

It's throwing up a flower spike, so it's in its second year. It'll flower and then die, so that solves the path problem.. Goldfinches like eating the seeds, and the seed heads are beautiful, make good decorations especially if spray painted silver or gold.

It's one of those plants which I let self seed, and then keep just the least badly placed of the seedlings. Others are Great Mullein with its white flannely leaves, and Caper Spurge because it looks so outlandish.

A weed is just any plant in a place you don't want it in.
I agree teases are lovely but not growing from the cracks in steps.

Look how it's grown!!!

Not long to flowering now!

Wow that is very impressive!

Envious!!!

Fabulous! I planted one last year and this year it's currently about 7ft tall. Flowers are just starting, I'm looking forward to teasels forever. 😁