I'm pretty certain it is an echium of some variety but so few grow here that I can't be any more specific as to the type.

The only echium that I think it could possibly be would be e. pininana and I've grown e. pininana...it wasn't quite like this so I'm not sure. In checking all the pics of e. pininana, they usually always go for the flower spike shot, but I did see one with the extended foliage rosette, so possibly. There is a house a block or so away with a grouping of these and we've been here over a couple of years now, so I'm thinking I would certainly have noiticed these when they were in flower if they were e. pininana, but.........I'm thinking that it ust be pininana cuz I can't imagine what else it could be...LOL...Thank you.

Definitely an Echium.

Thank you, I will agree...must be e. pininana and since I want to grow them again, now I know where to steal some seeds....