Echium vulgare. Vipers Bugloss.

...unless you have a very similar native Boraginaceae which I don't know.

Could it be Patterson's Curse? That's the feeling it gives me.

So invasive. All over the shoreline.

Yes but a magnet for pollinators. If you see it after it goes to seed Goldfinches will be present gobbling up the seeds. It is quite aggressive here too.

I never could tell the difference between the two. Just when I think I've figured it out, I realise I haven't.

I’d say vulgare.

Thank you for that, macranthos. It's very interesting.