Please what is this Monster

Whatever is this monster plant please?

Our son has moved to a new home and found this monster in his garden - does anyone know what it is please? I've tried to upload a photo - any help would be greatly appreciated. It's also smothered in blackfly but has an interesting "flower" which looks like an artichoke!

 

Hi Tweetsmum & welcome to Gardeners Corner.

Looks like a Cardoon, first time i've grown them this year & mine are only a foot high so far.

 

Cardoon or maybe globe artichoke perhaps?

 

I`m edging towards Globe Artichoke myself.

 

Steady Dai, last time you edged towards a Globe Artichoke, it took us weeks to get the prickles out of you:D

 

You just take care of your thermals.:D And leave the gardening to the rest of us.:yess::yess:

 

Thanks guys for your helpful responses. The picture I have of the "flower" certainly looks a little like an artechoke but has pointed petals. The whole plant [which is about 7ft high] is covered in blackfly so maybe it would be better if he got rid of it anyway? Being new to this and not very tekky, I can't work out how to insert a photo into a reply message box!
Regards
Beryl

 

A cardoon is an ornamental artichoke - and it definitely looks like my one. mine is also covered in blackfly, and it is also best to remove the flower heads to promote strong foliage, which is what is is usually grown for. If you let the flowers grow and go to seed, then the foliage really suffers!