It has furry texture to the thick leaves, the leave are pliable-not stiff. The plant is about a foot across and 8 inches tall.

Mullein?

If so, Frillylily, stand back!

Verbascum
Mullein (Verbascum)

It does kind of look like that, I might try moving it, It is in an area that we are going to put in a french drain later this summer. I have never had this plant grow in my yard before. I am assuming this is it's first year then, so no flowers til next year. I'll go ahead and close this, if anyone thinks this ID isn't right or has another suggestion, feel free...

It appears to be the Mullein (Verbascum thapsus). Check out the other photos in the Database.

Frillylily said: I might try moving it, It is in an area that we are going to put in a french drain later this summer. I have never had this plant grow in my yard before. I am assuming this is it's first year then, so no flowers til next year.

I transplant mullein, and the sooner the better... some of the larger plants aren't successful when moved.
To my eyes... I'd expect a flowering stalk this year.

yes, @HemNorth, that does appear to be what I have. The leaves are a little broader on that than the prior variety mentioned. Thank you!

stone said: I transplant mullein, and the sooner the better... some of the larger plants aren't successful when moved.
To my eyes... I'd expect a flowering stalk this year.

I understand there is a tap root, so that probably makes it harder to move.

I agree that the plant is in its second year of growth.

@Leftwood - Its second year because the rosette isn't flat?

I'd say it will bloom this year just based on the large size this early in the season.

Edited for clarity.

That's funny, Zoë, because the size is why I say it is second year. Do you think it could have already grown to that size from seed this year in zone 6 already? Because I don't.

Rick, No, sorry if my wording was confusing. I was agreeing that it will probably bloom this year for exactly that same reason: it is mighty big.

Changed previous post, so now this exchange is confusing, but I'd rather be clear!

Cool plant. It has a place in medicinal history. The leaves were used as bandage material in the civil war era.
I have heard older folks here talk about using it for earaches and other maladies.

As you mentioned, it does have a long taproot and doesn't transplant well. If able you might wait for the bloom and harvest seeds to replant.

No worries, Zoë. And thanks for mentioning that you changed that post for clarity, so I don't look like a dummy. That shows that you are mindful, thoughtful and value integrity.

To be honest I don't remember it being there last year, I mean its smack next to my front door, but Also we did some tractor/dirt work in that area (had a new sidewalk put in ect) and I'm pretty sure that area was ran over and scraped out several times, but maybe it survived somehow. It is rather large for a first year plant, I'd say it's a foot across or thereabouts. I have lambs ear planted in this same area so I may have passed it off as one of those last year, they look similar to me at first. We are putting in a drain in this are here in a couple months when the weather dries some, so if I want to save it, I probably should dig it, not sure it will flower by then, I have lost many things due to the work around the house, tried to save things as I could, but didn't always have luck.

Already solved
I agree, IF you want to move it do it asap, mindful of the tap root.
It would be very easy to overlook a seedling near a lamb's ear.
They pop up anywhere regardless of where they were before. I allow a few every year if possible. I watched a goldfinch on the seed head once. I think it is a fun plant.

At first, I thought perhaps the plant is a fall germinator, so I looked it up. No. It can come up anytime during the growing season, without special pretreatment. Seed survival has been documented up to 100 years. Seed germination is favored by bare soil, and changes in temperature often brought on by cultivation or soil disturbance. I think it is likely that your new sidewalk is why you have the plant, and it came up after the fact.

My grandfather used it for a plaster on the chest for congestion. Learned it from an Indin medicine man.