I've seen them growing in Cornwall but cannot remember the name.

its a member of the borage family Echium pinnata. once flowered it dies. its a biennial I think. frost tender unless sheltered.

I saw a lot of these in the Scilly Isles. They are magnificent.

Isn't Echium pininana usually blue and Echium wildpretii is red? I have the E. wildpretii growing in my garden and hope to have a tower of red flowers next year.

I tried growing Echium pininana in my garden, they did grow but not as big as the ones in you picture also I grew one that was more like a shrub.
I think I'm right in saying.......
The picture is..."ECHIUM PININANA 'PINK FOUNTAIN"

don't know why I typed pinnata as I know its pininana. doh!

Dah! Seaburngirl, We All have a Blip now and again LOL :o))

I've got the little one in stock here, e. russicum. Thought I'd give it a go. I hope it's not listening but I wish I hadn't bothered - bit of a dowdy!