Is this a (beast of a) weed?

[MeOnSea]

Hello, I’ve tried a few plant identifiers to no avail. We have a wild bit at the bottom of our garden, a mix of weeds and wildflower seeds. This beauty is narrow and very tall - about 6 feet at the mo - and just wondered if anyone knows what it is?

Jagged leaves are ruling out lots of the obvious tings. Can't wait to see flowers.

Although looking at it more closely, is it just the lower leaves which are jagged and the upper ones smooth?
Image searches on the net tend to be plants in flower without the leaves showing clearly enough (let alone the shape of the stem etc), don't they.

It hasn't flowered yet so it hasn't has chance to invade. Most troublesome invasive weeds do so vegetatively, by runners or root fragments - ground elder, bindweed, nettle, creeping thistle, japanese knotweed etc. The ones that rely on seed are easily controlled as seedlings and even better by removing the flower spike before it goes to seed.

Yes, I agree, the most damaging and hard to eradicate invasive plants are those that spread by runners but invasive plants that are spread by seed are just as troublesome if you don't want to spend forever weeding, particularly those that are spread by wind! Hence my advice to post a picture as soon as it flowers.

@MeOnSea Just wanted to report back. My 'weed' has now flowered and was identifiable 🤣. Turns out it is an obedient plant, also known as physostegia virginiana, part of the mint family which explains it's vigour!!

I'm so pleased we didn't pull it out in panic!!

Thanks for coming back with the name OP.
I thought obedient was an uncommon word to describe the plant but I see it is its common name.
But I have read this - 'False Dragonhead is another common name for Physostegia virginiana, Obedient Plant. These plants are noted for being aggressive spreaders in the landscape by both rhizomes and self-seeding.'
I was wondering if the seed could have been with birdseed and that it germinated due to the warm spring? I've never heard of it before.

Thanks for the update @catwithflowers. I also thought you meant obedient plant = non-weed! But a quick google corrected me (I am such a beginner gardener!)

No flowers from mine yet, but buds are forming...

I have that, I think. It's in the middle of the patio. I am waiting for the flowers to be sure of it, but one way or another, its life in its current position is limited.

So-called “obedient” because you can alter the orientation of the buds! My neighbour has a lovely pink one, and I’d like to get one some time.

😱😱😱. I have just re-identified it with the plant app now it's a few days further on and realised I have given you all false information 🙈.

Much as I would quite like an Obedient Plant, it turns out what I actually have is a helenium or sneeze weed!!!!! More to the point, as soon as I read the name I remembered buying it at Morrison's in May! In fact I bought two but only one seems to have survived the hens. I'm hoping it's the red variety, Moerheim Beauty as I also bought a yellow one called The Bishop and I prefer the red.

Still, I guess we have learned something about Obedient Plants (including the fact that I don't have one 🤣)

@MeOnSea looking forward to seeing what you have once it flowers!! Maybe it's a helenium too? 😅

@MeOnSea - did you get any flowers?

Here are the flowers, bit of a something or nothing! Wondering if it’s a fleabane - maybe Canadian fleabane?

Oh it does look like it could be Canadian fleabane! Not a plant I know but looks like it spreads easily so maybe you will need to remove it after all?