[tallulah]

I suspect this is a common plant/weed but I just can't find it described anywhere.  It comes up in profusion each year, and I always dig them up - but am I digging up a prize cottage garden specimen?    The leaves are long, like streptocarpus, thick and with spiny protrusions on either side of the central vein.  Any help most grateful!

[jabailey]

Could be wrong but it looks suspicously like Dipsacus Fullonum ; common or Fuller's teasel.

[Kleftiwallah]

I'll drink to that.     We normally bring in a couple of dried teazle plants to get the pleasure of the Goldfinches feeding off the seeds in our garden over winter.  Seedlings are a small price to pay.   Cheers,   Tony.

[Rampant_Weasel]

definitly teasel, i raised some from seed last year.

[tallulah]

Excellent - many thanks!  I'll keep them in - we love goldfinches!