It's crazy that utilizing the iPhone, AI tools and my own research, I can't figure out what weed this is and they are all over the place in North central California. Any ideas?

I have it everywhere too.

It does looks very familiar...

I'm thinking it has tiny tube flowers.

Here are a couple of pictures from a different area I took on February 22.

Looks a lot like fireweed.

CalPolygardener said: Looks a lot like fireweed.

Wrong leaves for Chamaenerion angustifolium.

CalPolygardener said: Looks a lot like fireweed.

Now if that grew in my yard, i wouldn't be pulling it up.

Fireweed, Fringed Willowherb, Epilobium ciliatum.

CalPolygardener said: Epilobium ciliatum.

Yes, that does look like the weed I'm thinking of. And its certainly in our area. The photos here are more like what I see:

https://calscape.org/Epilobium...)

@NCRAS, is this it?

Roots. One on left, I pulled. One on right, I dug.

My first thought was that it reminded me of Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) but that's just a wild guess.

Looks like we have a winner ;-) Thank you everyone for your help. Finally located on the UCIPM page.
Willowherbs ( Epilobium ciliatum, E. brachycarpum)
https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/WEED...

Here's our database entry for Fringed Willowherb (Epilobium ciliatum)

It seems to be in the pot of most plants at the store. I usually pull it out before I buy them, but have missed a few, as it is all over the yard, as Lucy68 said. I know it is a weed, but it does have pretty tiny pink flowers. Sometimes I just leave it...