Is this a weed?

[superoz]

I’m not sure what this is. I have the usual suspects in my garden but this has appeared out of nowhere and I haven’t a clue whether it’s a weed or an actual plant.
Does anyone know?

Can you do a close-up of the leaves?

And one of the top of the spike - does it look as if it is going to flower?

It looks a bit like aconitum, but I've a feeling it's a wild plant, the name of which is currently eluding me

Mugwort.

Here’s a close up

Larkspur?

The leaves look too fine for mugwort, agree it could be larkspur. Wait and see if it's got pretty flowers, then you'll know.

Wolfsbane, Aconitum napellus. Should have stunning dark blue flowers.

You do know weeds are actual plants too? ;-)

Wolfsbane (aka monkshood, aka aconite as Hermione could have told us) has less fine, feathery leaves than the closeup shows. Its like delphinium on steroids, whereas larkspur is the daintier annual cousin, I think.

Errol you're probably right. I felt it it was a bit tall for larkspur. The flowers should give the answer.

Agree its not aconitum/monkshood (which has poisonous leaves so just as well). Doesn't look like a weed. As others have said wait for the flower and post us another photo.

I'm leaning towards cosmea?

I'm leaning towards cosmea?

That has feathery leaves but the flower buds are different.

We're going to want a photo when the flowers come out, OP!

It’s wolfsbane, aka monkshood.
it will have beautiful blue flowers.
All parts are highly poisonous( not just to wolves!)but it tastes profoundly bitter, so poisonings are rare .
it is often grown in gardens despite being poisonous, as it is very beautiful.

*Ohyesiam
*
Oh no it's not.(sorry, your NN made that irresistible). Hopefully we'll see soon!

Wow thanks, lots of comments!
Hmmmm....it kind of looks like a Larkspur. So strange there’s just one.
I will post an update when the flowers are out!

It looks like a cosmos to me

images.app.goo.gl/Sbuv69sMHpEmpEGU7

The flower heads are all wrong for cosmos.

Don't you dare not post it when the flower opens!

Quick note, if its aconite, monkshood, a local gardener died a few years ago simply from contact. It's pretty but I wouldn't keep it hanging about or let it go to seed.

I have Monkshood in the garden and the leaves are not as finely divided as this.

Awaiting the flower pic!

Surely larkspur?

Or even Nigella? Though it looks a bit hefty.

Isn't nigella?

Too tall for nigella, and wrong sort of flower buds.

And the flowers are out!

Looks like Larkspur to my untrained eye?

Oh yes it definitely does. How random! It’s a beauty but quite poisonous ☠️