Petasites.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petasites_japonicus#/media/File:Petasites_japonicus.jpg

Thank you. What a strange plant. I thought it was a pumpkin when saw it's adult leaves last summer. :)

Yes, have another pup a few feet away. leaves are variegated - we will see how it behaves this season

It is a plant that can cover large areas, especially in damp sites. Where I work there is a patch that is at least 100’x30’.

I need to watch it closely then? I have a very small garden

Then remove it immediately! It is a plant for large, semi-wild places.

The variegated form is lovely in Spring leaf but it does spread viciously. I have a large clump down at the bottom of my land which I keep limited to abutt 15 feet across by mowing around it after hand pulling growth outside the allowed limits.

Commonly called Japanese Butterbur.

This is one of those plants that should have a warning label as part of the nursery display! I recall planting the goldleaved palmate form early in my gardening career as it was so appealing in shape and color and I was sure it would brighten up my small woodland garden. The first season was fine....the second it came up in several spots several feet away....the third year it was clear across the garden!!

I made the same mistake with plume poppy, Macleaya cordata :-)

Just be aware that it is a rampant spreader under good conditions and deal with it accordingly.

One way to grow it if you love the foliage is in a large tub or galvanized watering tank meant for farm animals. That keeps it from spreading via root suckers.

Uh-oh you all get me alarmed. :) probably why it survived. I will move another pup to an area under a maple tree to see how invasive it is. It at least easier than bindweed to deal with (I am still in the battle with that evil vine for the last couple years)