By Youngalistai
Surrey,
United Kingdom 
can i have a plant i.d please is this a big weed? i think it is i came by it as a 2 for 1 in with another plant
10 May, 2012
Answers
? cardoon - thistle type flowers, can grow to 6`.
10 May, 2012
Acanthus mollis ?
10 May, 2012
no its neither of those plants it has gunura type dark red spikes on its chunky stem i agree it does look like a cardoon but its green! not grey and its stems are different.......the mystery continues
13 May, 2012
This reminds me of the Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum).If so get rid of quick do not touch without gloves.
http://www.languard.co.uk/invasive-weed-management/giant-hogweed/
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwg/hogweedlookalikes/hogweedlookalike_web/Hogweed_Stem.JPG
20 May, 2012
yes steve it was giant hogweed and sucessfully dug it up it gave in very easily and couldnt find anything left behind ...ended up feeding it to my neighbours dog that had breathing difficulties.....havent heard from him for a while though
21 May, 2012
no its not a weed as such, but I cant for the life of me think what it is. possibly acanthus spinosa [but then maybe not]
10 May, 2012