What is this monster??

[ArtichokeAardvark]

This thing just keeps growing! Each leaf is nearly 30cm long, grey-green colour and feels fuzzy to the touch. I thought it was a foxglove originally (had one in the same spot last year) but the leaves are just too big now and feel different. It's just over a foot high so far.

Any ideas - I'm so curious now that I may just leave it unless it's a thug weed that is going to explode seeds everywhere?

Mullein, I think. I had it in my garden for a couple of years and then it didn’t come back. It just appeared one year, but it didn’t spread, if that helps.The best thing about it was the AMAZING caterpillars that lived on it each year - huge white, black and lime green ones. I was quite sad when it didn’t come back!

Verbascum thapsis, Great mullein, from the description, especially the confusion with foxglove. Caterpillars are of the Mullein moth. Mine do seed around. I pull out the seedlings but make sure I leave at least one in a conveniently position so I always have one.

They’re usually biennial but yours looks ready to throw up a flowering spike.

Wonderful, thank you!

Agree, and the yellow flowering spikes are spectacular and can get up to 2 metres tall.