Essex,
United Kingdom 
Have just seen a large interesting plant growing on a dump of garden waste - 5 ft high, long upright pink spikes.of composite small flowers; large - 20 cm. - green single leaves set alternate on stem, with rounded, complete edges. Stem woody, rather like old rhubarb. Any ideas - never seen before
29 Jun, 2010
Answers
This could be balsam, a very invasive plant, grows on river banks here. The seed pods flick out their seeds as you walk by.
29 Jun, 2010
balsam doesnt have composite flowers though.
29 Jun, 2010
The pink spikes of composite flowers make it sound like purple loosestrife, which is flowering about now, and the stems can get very woody.
http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/purple%20loosestrife%20photo%201.jpg
Have a look at this photo just in case.
29 Jun, 2010
Sorry, in a hurry this morning, did not notice the bit about the composite flower. As Bertie says it could be loosestrife, which you can use in a liquid feed. It would be nice to see a picture.
29 Jun, 2010
Previous question
« why do palm leaves seem dry at tips and some palm fronds dead
sounds like one of the hogweed family. with out more info hard to classify as there are many umbelliferas. the familt they belong too.
29 Jun, 2010