What is this plant?

Hello,

This plant has shot up from seemingly nowhere and is now quite big



I don't know if you can see but it has soft spikes/hairs.

What is it? Is it ok to cut back? Will it flower?

Thanks,

Natalie

 

Also, what is this lovely flower?



The bees really love it, hoping to buy some more for our patio.


Thanks,
X

 

Hi Natalie,

The first one is possibly the flowering currant, Ribes sanguineum.
Had it possibly been cut back hard at some stage?Hence the reason it has suddenly come up from nowhere. It also should have flowered recently but not if it had been cut back.

The second is perennial cornflower, Centaurea montana