This plant has appeared for the first time, behind my garden back wall. Not got a clue what it is so any pointers would be gratefully received before I pull it up along with the other 'weeds' :)
(http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss188/automama/Growing/009.jpg)
it looks like a Verbascum, or mullein of some sort. Probably Great Mullein but there are other natives and ornamentals. Very attractive spikes with yellow flowers. Very popular with mullein moth larvae ;D
Don't pull it up, it's a mullein or Aaron's rod, lovely spike of yellow flowers and those downy leaves. It attracts the most beautiful caterpillar too - wait and see. Oh yes, you can smoke the leaves as well!
Thanks :)
Have Googled and it sounds very useful...if a little invasive...not sure if it will survive where it is though as the car gets parked right next to it. But I will leave it for now and see how it grows :)
If it turns out to have blue flowers, it could be alkanet: pentaglottis sempervirens. Horribly difficult to get rid of because have very long tap roots and will regrow from just a piece of root left in the soil.
It looks like Great Mullein to me. I've never found it invasive. It's a biennial, and it's easy to dig up or move plants before they get big.