Very nice pics, Laura1. What type of camera did you get? I had Ikon last year and it didn't grow very well for me in a pot in dappled shade. Not sure what I did wrong, but it sure is lovely. I may try again this year if I can find it.

Sorry, I can't help you. Mine had a Y already when I got it and it was about 3 feet tall but it hasn't bloomed yet due to the heat. I'm sure it depends on where the cutting was taken as to when it Y's. You get the tall ones from trunk cuttings and suckers I believe.

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.

Well, Hieracium looks close, except it doesn't have lobed leaves... But Hedypnois cretica (Cretanweed) does look like the ticket! Thanks! B)