It looks a bit like Borage, that has hairy stems and leaves and does hurt your hands.

Thanks, that looks quite likely.

By the way we can't zoom in on a photo

Moon_grower

Hit ctrl and + together and your browser will magnify the page. Do it as many times as you like.

I thought it looked like borage too, Thepoisongardener, but it's a bit difficult to tell without seeing the flowers, as they are very striking and vivid blue.

Thanks for that tip, by the way, about zooming. My OH knew it of course! He'd never told me. Annie

I think its more likely one of the Symphytums, in other words, Comfrey. The leaves on that are horrid to touch and can irritate.

To zoom in you can also use the zoom level on the bottom right hand corner of the web page (where it says 100% or whatever you have it set to) and you can enlarge picture up to 400%!!!

Don't have a display like that, Sheilar - I just use Zoom under View to restore after doing Control ++.

Ah yes you can zoom in that way but all it does is make a fuzzy photo larger... There are sites where you can click on a small image and instantly a large image pops up much easier to view because they are clearer. Don't think it is comfrey leaves are broader but zoom or no a fuzzy photo is a fuzzy photo.

Could be Symphytum uplandicum though. But you're right, the pic's fuzzy.

What's the connection with giant hogweed though? Did you think this might be it? The giant hogweed is 7 or 8 feet high, hence the name!

Steragram

As I said, this was a journo asking me about giant hogweed (which grows more like 12-15ft) and this plant came up as a 'by the way...'

I was trying to explain why I only had a poor picture.

Well we all know it isn't giant hog weed as to what it is without a better photo, which apparently you can't take, we are basically playing a guessing game.

Sorry, must be a bit thick this evening...

Nope this particular Q seems to have gone round in circles Steragram so not thick! I'm still not sure why Giant Hogweed appears in the Q when it is obvious that this isn't... TPG's answer to our Q's actually left me more confused! A simple 'what is this and is it a skin irritant would have worked' and I'm sure that not all my Q's are clear :-)

This poor person was just asking a simple question!! It only needed a simple answer too.
Hi TPG. I too think it might have been borage which my daughter has and yes it does sting when you touch it, in fact it is quite a vicious plant, we only grow it for the very pretty flowers which can be used a decoration on home made cake.

Just for the record, all I was doing was trying to explain that I had only a distant relationship with the person who had this plant in the hope of avoiding the 'can you get a better photo?' questions.

Thanks Grandmage. I'm inclined towards borage too since I've never heard of anyone having skin problems from Symphytum. Still, if it is one of the two, it's nothing too serious.

Well you have now, Poisongardener - I can't touch the comfrey in the garden downstairs, it irritates in exactly the same way as borage does for me, but its not a strong reaction to either, more just itchy prickling irritation.

Thanks, Bamboo, sorry to hear that.

Not a big deal really - as far as I'm concerned, if it feels unpleasant to touch, there's a reason for that, and a remedy - wear gloves, lol!