Anyone know what this is?

[Westi]

Found this on the allotment, never seen one before & liked the reddish stalks so let it grow & now I have this with these prickles on it! Still quite attractive so may see it to the end but haven't a clue & it's overwhelming looking on the web for weeds!

Westi

[Primrose]

Hmm, my first thought was it might be some deviant of sea holly given your location but I googled photos of that and it has few similarities apart from a thistly bit. . I think I might have seen something rather similar growing on scrublands near the pebbled beaches in Sussex which made me think t might be some seaside weed but afraid I haven,t been able to nail it down either.
If all else fails Kew Botanical gardens might be able to identify it for you, or possibly the RHS if you have a membership number you can quote. .

[Monika]

It's Datura stramonium or thorn apple, Westi. Turns up occasionally in hot summers. There is lots of info if you google it.

[Geoff]

If you don't get chance to research the key point is:
"Although quite a striking plant, it is as well to be aware that all parts, particularly the seeds, are highly poisonous. It belongs to the Solanaceae, a family which includes the potato and tobacco, and many members of this family contain toxic substances".

[Beryl]

I looked it up on the RHS website Westie. Maybe you should think twice about keeping it however attractive.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=536

Beryl.

[retropants]

yep, Datura, toxic and quite the bully. Once you have them, they seem to pop up everywhere!

[PLUMPUDDING]

Yes poisonous weed, we sometimes get them in the hen run. I've not seen any for a while. I did notice quite a few hemp like seedlings this morning though - doesn't smell as strong as cannabis so probably not illegal. It's interesting what comes up in the mixed bird seed.

[Westi]

Out it goes then before those seed pods burst open!

Thanks Everyone!

Westi

[grannydrums]

Glad I saw this, I had one growing last year under the bird feeder, I left it because I thought it was unusual and quite striking, and it died down last winter. Now I know its poisonous I will remove any more that pop up.