I'm so glad that I ran into this article! We had some topsoil brought into our yard this year and one of these popped up out of nowhere. It is the only one and I will make sure to pull it before it goes to seed. Thanks for everyone's help.
Question about this plant. by: Anonymous
Does this plant produce yellow grape sized pods that splits open 3 ways with seeds inside???
this year by: Kristi
I originally posted this pic last fall 2009. After finding out what it was I had to, unfortunately, spray total veg killer in the area where I had my "gold" soil. bummer. They better not come back this year. so invasive!
"heart shaped leaves" by: CindyPDX
To me, this looks a bit like a young Paulownia Tree aka Princes tree or a Royal Paulownia tree. And you mention it has "heart shaped leaves". I have one but it has light lavender flowers but I read they can also have yellow blooms too. In the fall, when the huge leaves fall off, my tree has these large pod type things that contain thousands of small fuzzy seeds. I know in some US states these trees are a problem, but in my Portland, Oregon area they are not. I've had my tree now for about 4-5 years and it is about 30 feet tall and I've never had another one re-seed and come up or have not seen it come up in neighboring yards.
velvet leaf by: Ellen
FYI... I used to live in a farm area. We had a lot of top soil brought in after we built our home and come later summer I had these "flowers" growing all over my yard. I thought they were pretty cool until the lady across the street from me came over and told me what they were. She was 70+ yrs old and a farm woman all her life so I knew that she knew what she was talking about. She told me that the seed lay dormant in the soil for eons and that I needed to pull the plants out before they went to seed because they will send out thousands of seeds, and they become very very invasive. So, that's what I did. So if you see them in your yard, get rid of them.
common annual weed "flower" by: Kristi Barnes
After furthur research I have found out...."This is a common plant that occurs in most counties of Illinois. Habitats include cropland (particularly corn and soybean fields), abandoned fields, vacant lots, construction sites,(we have a new construction house) and waste areas. VELVETLEAF typically occurs where the soil has been recently disturbed and the long dormant seeds are brought close to the soil surface." -Hence why I never saw it until I tilled the compost. :)
