If its soft to touch, its likely a foxglove, if its unpleasant to touch, dig it out as best you can, it'll be Alkanet

in a rockery that is definitely a weed. I agree with bamboo's id.

Oh God - it's the best damn plant I've got in there. But it.,ll be out and in the green bin by tomorrow morning.
Thanks guys.

At least it's a sign you have a good planting bed and things like to grow in it.

Why put it in the bin..........foxgloves are fantastic plants. You could carefully dig out and transplant in a more Sui able position.

If it is a foxglove then 'yes' Hank could move if it is alkanet it needs to go...

Just transplant it Hank, as Paul suggests. You'll soon see which it is when it starts to flower.

If it's the "best" plant there then why does it need moving? Why not make the most of it and nurture it?

Whats so bad about Alkanet,i have them dotted about never seem a problem is their something i should know ?

Thanks guys, there's hope for me ( and this plant) yet. I'll move it somewhere mroe suitable this weekend and keep an eye on it.

Hank's rock garden is very small if you remember Urbanite and this large border plant would swamp the little rockery plants.

Nite: Alkanet is very pretty when it flowers, but once its got to the sort of size similar to Hank's picture, it'll be with you forever, the roots go down what seems to be miles, and you can't get rid of them. And they colonize a widespread area quite rapidly. Personally, I find them horrible to handle, they're really unpleasant to touch, and I now remove them without a second's hesitation when they're small. Wearing gloves!

I have this leaf coming up in my garden, mine is a foxglove, in your pic it looks the same as mine.
If you go on the web and put in foxglove leaf it will show you then put in Alkanet leaf & you'll see the difference for yourself :o))

Thanks L, I'll check them both

Ladyessex, you just have to touch them - the difference is immediately obvious!

Yes, I do know that but I thought it would help Hank :0)

I need all the help I can get !

I've just carefully checked out pictures of both - several times and can now say for certain - I don't know !
Must go out tomorrow and bring a leaf in.
Thanks everbody.

I think its much more likely to be a foxglove though. They can be a bit touchy about transplanting so don't be surprised it it looks a bit miserable.

Personally I'd get rid of... Foxglove or no!

But if its allowed to grow Hank will learn about it, which is what he wants to do?

I agree with Steragram :o)

You don't have to bring a leaf in, Hank - just go out and touch one of them between finger and thumb. As I said, it feels soft and velvety if its foxglove, and faintly prickly and rough, very unpleasant, if its alkanet. It ain't rocket science me dear .... I suspect its a foxglove though, and if it is and you want to move it, use a full sized garden fork or spade to dig it up - it has lots of fine brownish roots which will have formed a fair size clump, judging by the topgrowth. Water in well after replanting....

Thanks B, that's my first job tomorrow morning.

Soft and velvet B, so I guess it's a foxglove. Thanks.