PLANT ID - thought it was an artichoke, but not so sure

[lindsayanng]

So, I was given this plant last year by a neighbor. He was always giving us plants from his garden.. Well he gave us this plant that was just two giant leaves. He said it would survive but it would need a lot of TLC so i did all last year.. We got a few new leaves last year, but nothing all that great. The neighbor who gave it to us has passed away since, so i can not ask him.

THIS YEAR I made sure to cover it well for the winter and it came back and then some.. it went from being two leaves all year last year to now being almost 2.5 feet tall with LOTS of leaves

I then noticed little black bugs so i went to another neighbor who i know is a gardening genious.. He came over and said.. "well, those are definitely APHIDS but i dont think you have an artichoke plant" and he took me to see his artichoke.. DEFINITELY not the same plant

SO... CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THIS IS!!!! The neighbor who came over today did say that aphids usually dont live on weeds, they like vegetable and fruit plants.. SO i want to know what I have.. HERE IS A FEW PICTURES

 

[lindsayanng]

OOPS forgot the pictures

 

[stroppy]

well yep its got blackfly ... you can spray on soapy water .... but sorry havent a clue what the plant is

 

[DrDave]

Have you tried to smoke it? LOL

 

[lindsayanng]

it totally looks like it could be pot.. but its not. I know too much what pot looks like.. the leaves are not broad and wide like that.. i know that for sure.

 

[koiguy1969]

pot? i just dont see any resemblence,,,pot leaves have either 5or 7 shoots depending on the strain... i just saw a show about it... plus i was a teenager in the 70s!!! JUST SAY NO!!!

 

[MassKoi]

lindsayanng I am not far from you in Mass. Maybe I could come over and we could try smoking some just to be sure it's not pot...... ____~

 

[koiguy1969]

if you do...i'll tell!!!LOL

 

[DrCase]

That stuff might be legal ..

 

[Oldhead]

kind looks like the stuff at the woods edge in my backyard.

http://njaes.rutgers.edu/weeds/weed.asp?commonpigweed

 

[BBK]

Jagged leaves usually means its a weed.

It looks like a bushy weed that is native around here.

 

[morewater]

That aint whacky tabaccy.

 

[HARO]

That aint whacky tabaccy.

Don't worry, Morewater, that post is almost 5 years old. They've either smoked it or eradicated it by now!
John

 

[morewater]

5 years old? Man, talk about living in the past.

You know what they say about what that stuff does to your brain cells, right?

 

[j.w]

Almost looks like stinging Nettles but you'd know by now