In message , Martin Brown
writes
On 19/05/2020 17:08, Jim S wrote:
On Tue, 19 May 2020 16:10:47 +0100, Ian Jackson wrote:

This has been growing for some time in the 'wild' part of my garden
(photo here):
https://ibb.co/TgtjQj7
It's presently around 4' 6" tall, and looks like a dark green spiky
thistle. However, there is no sign of any of the usual thistle seed
heads. Can anyone tell me what it really is?
Teasel?

No. They have more conventionally shaped leaves with smaller spikes on.

It is some sort of thistle. Probably blown in by the wind. It may well
be quite ornamental so long as you don't let the seeds fly again. Once
it is in flower post again and there is a good chance of identification.

From now on I'll certainly give it a bit of TLC. So far, I've tended to
ignore it - but now I'll at least give it the occasional drink of water
in the hope it will eventually flower.

As has been suggested, it could be a woolly thistle (cirsium
eriophorum). Unfortunately, most of the Googled photos concentrate on
the pretty seed heads, and few on the leaves. However, from what I can
see, the leaves on my plant are distinctly more substantial and
'aggressive' than most of the other examples I've seen online. [Maybe
mine is simply a particularly healthy specimen.]

It's actually rather difficult to get a good photo of my 'thistle'.
Despite it being perfectly clear to the naked eye, when photographed it
blends perfectly into the wilderness behind it.
--
Ian