This fulla is providing some full on action in the greenhouse at the moment. A couple of small plants were given to me by a friend who gardens in a very mild situation in Mousehole in West Cornwall. The huge leaves look as if the plant has strayed out of a field of overgrown brassicas whereas it couldn’t be further from home. It is in fact native to Robinson Crusoe Island off the west coast of Chile where the dreaded goats are scoffing it into an endangered and rare item.

This small tree can also be found under the name Sonchus brassicifolius, which is part of the daisy family, Asteraceae. As can be seen in the image attached the wildly orange hanging flowers are in complete contrast to the foliage. Seemed to be easy to grow in the greenhouse, once it was up and away from the molluscs, that is. Plenty more buds to open for visitors to see when the garden is open on Wednesday afternoons.