Verbascum, probably V. thapsus. Common name wooly mullein. Like most biennials, a prolific seeder.

Agreed. Verbascum thapsus. While they usually have 1 flower spike, occasionally you will see ones with multiple spikes.

There are 17 Verbascum species in the States. The one in the photo above has leaves that are much more lateral than typical of the V. thapsus we see in this area. I'm wondering if V. phlomoides is a better fit for NY? The other Verbascum options for that area can be seen on the BONAP maps here.

Phlomoides looks good to me also, especially when you say the plant is nine feet tall. It's a bigger plant with more showy flowers than V. Thapsus and it can be locally abundant, but it's not very well known.

The leaves on the flower spike do stick out on to the side with V. thapsus. Generally there is not this much leaf growth on the spike because the plant starts shutting down leaf production when the spike starts to flower. The side spikes are a bit atypical - though I have seen this on occasion with V. thapsus. I suspect the extra leaves are to support flower production on the side spikes as they are behind the main spike in development.

to repeat.. if you leave it to go to seed.. you will probably have hundreds to look at next year.. there has to be thousands of seeds in that pic.. and they are ripening fast ...

easily putting it in the prolific reseeder category ... ken

Verbascum Olympicum has the multiple candelabra flower spikes like in picture.It's very similar to thapsus.

Usdav.gov only lists California for Verbascum olympicum. Besides, the flower heads/clusters are all wrong for this one.

Anita, you've been on Gardenweb for a while and I seem to recall you are central/western NY State - correct? I live in the Greater Rochester/Finger Lakes region. I've seen V. thapsus throw multiple flower spikes before. It isn't the most common occurrence but I've seen it plenty enough around here to know that is exactly what you have. It is a plant I'm pretty familiar as I've harvested much for medicinal use.

Hi there. Yes many years, occasional posts. This plant was at a B&B where I was staying in Ulster County which I think is Zone 6. I live in Putnam County which I believe is also Zone 6. I thank you ALL for sharing your incredible knowledge and so quickly. Unfortunately I have no control over what happens to this plant; I was just curious. I hear the concern for the potential for spreading. I assure you if it were my garden it would never have gotten that far!!

Are you saying olymicum is only recorded to grow in California? I believe it's native to southern Europe.I found out about it because I ordered thapsis seeds in spring and I received olymicum seeds instead. I planted a few,but haven't seen any seedlings. I'm in Illinois. I'm sure if thapsis stalk is broken or clipped it would grow multiple spikes. I'm getting more into natives so it's fine if the seeds don't grow.Thapsis can look desirable in the wild from a distance,but seems really rough looking in the garden. I just suggested another possibility. I wasn't swearing that's what it was.

Ah, so this thing was in a garden, not growing in a vacant lot someplace? That expands the range of possibilities....

We were at an animal sanctuary. I don't think they cultivate the garden we were looking at. It looked untouched.

Saying that California is the only place where there are naturalized populations of Verbascum olympicum. Other places would have to be a very rare garden escapee (else there would probably be more naturalized populations) or purposefully planted. That info actually helps to know in many of the requests here as it can help cut down the possibilities.

The plants.usda.gov site will show you all the maps for a genus if you look up the genus and click the "show all" in the upper right of the map. Verbascum: http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=VERBA

While I think there is much data missing at the county-level, this will give a pretty decent list of native and naturalized NYS species: http://newyork.plantatlas.usf.edu

Individual plant variability as well as damage could cause multiple spikes. Given my experience, I think it is the former. Much like a four-leaf clover has an extra leaf.

I think the plant has charm in wilder, rustic, and unkept places but may seem out of place in tidy, prim and proper garden spaces.

So I may not have the climate here in Illinois to be able to grow the Olympicum seeds I got that were supposed to be thapsus. I think after reading what you said that I don't want to grow Thapsus in my garden either.Those huge basal leaves take up a lot of ground space. I could try looking for a picture of every verbascum species,but there are many and even though it's great being first I don't think it's worth putting myself through that many paces.As far as I'm concerned,it's a Thapsus with a variation.

Verbascum grows on long island in cleared lots and fields that are let go. I grew up on and still live on the island and I don't remember seeing it as a kid but have for the the last 15 years or so. If you get dirt, compost or whatever from various town "ecology" facilities you'll get this( and also some majorly invasive noxious weeds). The flowers are smaller and the color is dull yellow but it has way more spikes. Poor soil and drought tolerant too.