I found this plant growing by itself in the middle of my flower bed. It is about 4 ft tall and has interesting little seed pods and tiny yellow blossoms. In the picture it is the taller plant to the left of the terracotta pot. What am I? Thank you

It looks very similar to Abutilon theophrasti (Indian Mallow or Velvetleaf).
The photos I've seen of A. theophrasti show toothed leaves, whereas those on your plant seem to be entire, but one of my plant guides says it has entire or slightly toothed leaves.
I see a flower in one of your photos; another photo showing it might help if it's still there.

looks like mallow/Abutilon theophrasti. Maybe a closer look at the leaves will show the slightly toothed edges?

@wildflowers @muddy1
THANK you for your help. I will read up on them to see if it is invasive or not. Here is another picture of the leaves. I had already pulled it up before I read your answer so I had to go find it - and it's already wilted leaves! They do look slightly serrated.

You're welcome! Good thing you pulled it out; apparently they can be very invasive.

Yep, the invasive Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)

https://www.naisn.org/species/...
http://www.winlawn.com/velvetl...

Yes, I must say I've never seen one as big and healthy looking as yours, Terri. One will show up here every now and then.

I actually saved the seeds. I will now put them in a Ziploc bag a d into the trash! Thanks yall!

Some people like growing velvetleaf in a native wildflower setting. (Even though it's Introduced) They are very attractive to bees and other insects, providing pollen and nectar. It can also be used as a sacrificial plant in companion planting.

Did you see this one? It's about eight feet tall. Wow!

wildflowers said:Some people like growing velvetleaf in a native wildflower setting. (Even though it's Introduced) They are very attractive to bees and other insects, providing pollen and nectar. It can also be used as a sacrificial plant in companion planting.

Did you see this one? It's about eight feet tall. Wow!

• Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti)
• Uploaded by GrammaChar

Do you think I should keep the seeds for future trades? I'm a bit nervous about tall invasive weed plants b/c I've got wayyy too many of them already.

How about if you stop calling it a tall invasive weed, and instead try.... Easy to grow attractive nutrient accumulator.

Down here in our poor southern soils, anything that is easy to grow, and is easy to pull after producing lots of bulk organic matter.... Seems worth keeping.

What about bird activity? Caterpillars?

Also....
These tall annuals.... Work wonders at shading out the noxious species....

I like chenopodium for the same thing....
Nice thick patch to shade everything else out.... Pull for compost.... when ready to plant something else.... And... If left to go to seed..... Winter bird feeders!

OK, can't find information on birds, but apparently the checkered fritillaries use the plant as a host plant:
http://www.illinoiswildflowers...

Apparently the seeds are edible... Especially when green:

http://www.eattheweeds.com/vel...

When reading about the poor corn farmers having trouble with this plant...
Maybe ask yourself whether you intend to get a tractor and start row cropping the place...
My soil is soooo terrible that enlisting help from the weeds makes a lot of sense.

stone said:How about if you stop calling it a tall invasive weed, and instead try.... Easy to grow attractive nutrient accumulator.

Down here in our poor southern soils, anything that is easy to grow, and is easy to pull after producing lots of bulk organic matter.... Seems worth keeping.

What about bird activity? Caterpillars?

Also....
These tall annuals.... Work wonders at shading out the noxious species....

I like chenopodium for the same thing....
Nice thick patch to shade everything else out.... Pull for compost.... when ready to plant something else.... And... If left to go to seed..... Winter bird feeders!

OK, can't find information on birds, but apparently the checkered fritillaries use the plant as a host plant:
http://www.illinoiswildflowers...

Apparently the seeds are edible... Especially when green:

http://www.eattheweeds.com/vel...

When reading about the poor corn farmers having trouble with this plant...
Maybe ask yourself whether you intend to get a tractor and start row cropping the place...
My soil is soooo terrible that enlisting help from the weeds makes a lot of sense.

THANK you. You are right and I actually do keep a lot of these. The tall invasive ones I speak of Are the ones I mentioned a year ago or so that had little value either way such as poke salat. I despise it and do not like digging up the potato size roots they leave behind. The other is sumac. I can't begin to tell you how badly I react to that. Suffice it to say that even with steroids I have scars from it. I always appreciate your comments, help and advice.

Hmmm...

Paulownia tomentosa
Pueraria lobata syn. Pueraria montana var. lobata
Ligustrum sinense
Pyrus calleryana
Imperata cylindrica
Sorghum halepense
Ailanthus altissima
Alliaria petiolata
Lonicera japonica
Rosa multiflora
Hydrilla verticillata
Cirsium vulgare

Rationalization abounds.

ViburnumValley said:Hmmm...
Rationalization abounds.

Do you really group velvet weed in that list?

Where's buddleia?
Himalayan balsam?
Hedera helix?

I used to grow vipers bugloss... Until the native red columbine crowded it out.

Invasive at your house might be barely marginal here.

Although....
Most of the plants on your list are pretty rough customers.....

Also....
Vinca major,
Chinese wisteria.....
Japanese honeysuckle....
Nandina...

Definitely different from an annual that can be easily pulled for the compost...... And....
Unlike the cirsium....
The seeds really don't spread....

Unlike the lingustrum which tricks the poor birds into eating berries with little nutrient value, and then spreading seeds...

I'd grow velvet weed just to use as tp.
I already grow mullien for toilet paper...
Barely grows here...

@stone i think you actually would be Approving of what I am doing here. I have about 3 acres of the property that I am working on (blood, sweat & tears as you well know) to have walking gardens wherein I visualize a place for everybody (annuals, shrubs, perennials, cacti, natives and yes. "Weeds.") I have incorporated plants that people have told me I don't want because they have value to nature NOT just b/c they please the eye. I will have to look up every plant on @ViburnumValley 's list - it looks like Chinese to me! Anyway i feel blessed to have what Mother Earth gives me and I am learning how to give back. I have actually transplanted wild artichoke (affectionately called "fartichoke") as a food source and I am growing Mullein for the many uses it has.
I rescued Mastiffs for a long time and often had 4, 5 or 6 of the 225lb beasts roaming around inside my home. I successfully fostered a peaceful, loving environment where we all got along. Oh by the way you are correct; with your help I have identified my new plants are in fact Empress (Paulownia) trees. Hmmm where will I fit them in...? :)

I hope you both have a beautiful day, Terri

Fartichoke?
Sunchoke?

Having the hardest time getting those established.....
Stupid voles eat them as quick as I plant.....

I had an empress tree growing among the veggies, alas.... Too much shade... Cut it down, and now tons of root suckers to pull and add to the compost..... Almost wonder how they'd work as mulch....

I'm over run with kittens, and the stupid neighbors just dropped more off... Scared little things can barely eat solid food...

With those huge dogs.... Maybe keep armadillos and raccoons away?

Do they catch squirrels?

Velvet leaf. This is what the seedling looks like:

Yes, identified 4 years ago.

Huh. It said "new", interesting...