We've gotten this plant a couple years in a row now. There's wood mulch and a birdfeeder with sunflower seeds above it. I don't do anything in this area.

This has yellow flowers, prickly looking leaves and stem.

THanks!

Sorry! We're in NJ if that matters : )

Looks like buffalo bur (solanum rostratum).
Surprised to see this in NJ.

I thought it looked like some sort of nettle. Any number or "weed" seeds can be included in bird seed or any sort of animal feed. So it could be something that is not normally found in your area.

This USDA page shows a pretty wide distribution for it including Canada:

http://plants.usda.gov/core/pr...

sooby said:This USDA page shows a pretty wide distribution for it including Canada:

That is one wide spread weed....
I've never seen it in person... Thought it was something from TX.

Thank you to everyone! Very accurate and FAST replies to my question.

Sooby - I found that same USDA page with the map : ) Slipped my mind that it might have come in with the bird food. 2 years in a row : )

Stone: never saw it in person? I'd be happy to mail it to you : ) ??

feetsdr said:Stone: never saw it in person? I'd be happy to mail it to you : ) ??

:)
After seeing the USDA map...
I'm pretty sure that it will turn up in one of my gardens without any help...

Unless you figure out how to eat it.... I'm not sure there is any reason to import that particular sticker plant...
Plenty of sticker bushes and itchweeds in my garden already.

Yep, it looks like Buffalo Bur (Solanum angustifolium)

I didn't know that could be contained in birdseed ... I've been feeding the backyard birds for 40+ years but thankfully I've never had that sprout from the seed ... those thorns/prickles look scary!

The Solanum was most likely not in the birdseed but rather was a gift from the birds who had been feeding on the Solanum seeds elsewhere and deposited the seeds in your yard when they stopped to feed. After the first year the plant will show up nearby or wherever else the birds carry the seed.