Its a weed plant that arrives on its own, and some people let them grow because they like them - it does seed itself quite a bit though, I was digging out a few of these yesterday. And I really wish I could remember what the devil it's called... someone else will hopefully. I seem to think it begins with L (for all the good that is...)

Whatever it is, it seeds itself around prolifically, so I tend to pull mine out . . . sorry I don't know the name, but look forward to someone naming it!

Is it a Linaria, snap-dragon type flowers in lilac?

Linaria purpurea....a toadflax. Lovely flower but a complete pain as it spreads like wildfire

You know what? That's why I love this site, you guys and girls are triffik.
Thanks people.

Sorry Badfish, I like it and leave it to grow where it's not in the way - at the moment filling a large space in the wild flower area, when it gets too much I shall be ruthless! Sad, but I also like the smaller yellow toadflax!

Honeysuckle, don't apologise to me, i don't mind it in other people's gardens....it's just a little too invasive for me. Do what you want, i was just stating facts

Honeysuckle I'm with you on the yellow one - absolutely love it. I can't collect seeds though as it grows in a lane that's too narrow to dare stop in!

Wonderful ticks all my box's.... a beautiful colour, flowers for weeks. and bees love it and also you can control whether and where it seeds AND in most cases its 'FREE' ;-)

I love it too. Sometimes comes up with pale pink flowers.
Bees love it and it is a food source for some moths. You can control it easily enough by cutting off the flower spikes before they set seed. (And it looks good as a cut flower with roses and Japanese anenomes)