struggling to identify this weed

[notgreenfingers]

I'm having so much trouble with this weed, no one can give me a clear identification. Here's some info to go with the pictures
1. Leaves & stems are very hairy
2. Roots are tuberous like dandelion & up to 12 inches deep
3. Mature leaves are fairly circular in shape & about as big as a dinner plate
4. Quite low growing maybe 6-8 inches
5. Skin developed itchy rash after trying to clear in late autumn
6. It just keeps spreading, I dug out 4 bin liners of roots in sept/Oct & thought I'd cleared it for it to reappear 14 days ago & start flowering

[Scarlet]

It looks like borage to me

[veggiechicken]

Agree with borage

[Kristen]

My borage is dead for another couple of months ... could it be flowering now in Birmingham?

Stamens look very long to me ...

I think there is an agricultural crop which is similar to Borage, but not the same thing. Spreads from any field it is planted in as far as an bird can fly

[notgreenfingers]

Compared to google images the flower doesn't look right for borage, other suggested culprits are comfrey & alkanetbut again ddoesn't quite match google images

[veggiechicken]

This may help Borage - Wild Flower Finder

[Scarlet]

They look like borage flowers to me but as Kristen has said forages doesn't flower until summer. borage can also be a skin irritant to some (me!) so I really think it's a relative of borage.

[alldigging]

The middle one looks more like phacelia with its longer stameny bits.
But the last one is borage

[mothhawk]

I thought borage, though as kristen says, it's early to be flowering now. Turned the pics for a better look.

.............

[Scarlet]

Abraham Isaac Joseph
British Wild Plant: Trachystemon orientalis Abraham-Isaac-Jacob

[veggiechicken]

The Gold Star goes to Scarlet

Never heard of this plant before Celebrating garden plants... - Trachystemon orientalis

[notgreenfingers]

Thank you now I can sleep tonight lol now that I know what it is I can set about the removal of it. Shame the flowers are so pretty

[Bigmallly]

If you like it then leave it, it is not a weed to you but a lovely plant.

[notgreenfingers]

It is lovely but it has taken over 1/3 of the garden including the area cleared for raised veg boxes & travelling into the lawn which the toddler needs. Sadly the flowers last only a short while then the leaves just cover the garden stopping anything else growing & contact with the leaves gives me a rash so don't really want toddler playing around it

[Kristen]

If you like it then leave it, it is not a weed to you but a lovely plant.

... Lovely plant

... Wrong place

Pick one!!!