Weed or legitimate plant?

I have these things growing in my backyard, and I'm guessing it's a weed but I'm not sure. If they are weeds, they are the heartiest looking weeds I have ever seen. They have a thick stalk (close to an inch in diameter) and large football shaped leaves (except they are rounded on the ends, not pointy). The biggest leaves are probably over 6 inches long. They have been growing since the spring and the one is over 3 feet tall! Now it looks like it's sprouting some sort of buds--sort of a pyramid shape, like you might see on a lilac. Has anyone ever seen something like that? What is it? Is it worth keeping around, or if I leave it will it become a nuisance?

Answers:
milk weed poisonous

Other answers:
sounds like someones growing skunk in your back garden u lucky thing go roll a joint
sounds like someones growing skunk in your back garden u lucky thing go roll a joint
I have read that the way to tell if something is a weed or an expensive plant is to pull on it. If it comes up easily out of the soil, it is an expensive plant. :-)
No clue what it might be called but remember this, a weed is just a plant that isn't where you want it to be. If you like it, keep it.
kudzu maybe...a weed
not sure how to spell it!
The question really is "what is a weed?". A weed is any plant that is in a place where you dont want it.

It sounds like to me that you find your new plant acquisition interesting. Isn't that why we cultivate plants in the first place?

Make sure it isn't a poisonous genera such as poison sumac, or ivy, then sit back and enjoy! You may find it becomes a show-stopping flower. If not, isn't nature amazing anyway?
Sounds kinda like poke salad. Some people eat it. Take one to you local nursery and ask them. We pull them up. Weeds.
You may possibly be describing Great Mullein (Verbascum Thrapsus). The flower stalk (raceme) would be developing at about this time of year. It grows in sandy soils and neglected fields. Technically, it is a weed (wildflower). I find it's form different and interesting. If you allow it to develop, you most assuredly will have more of these plants in the future!
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