compare with pokeweed

ken

It is prolific this year, isn't it? I have removed several from my garden this year already.

Awesome, thanks Ken. It definitely is Pokeweed. I guess some birds visiting the birdbath left me a gift. Based on what I read I better get rid of it. Poison, and "hideously invasive" were common terms. I think I will go paint some 2-4 D on it right away.

It's a native plant and good for wildlife, but your space is probably too small for it. The poison part is a bit overhyped; obviously humans have been living around it for thousands of years.

No need to use chemicals, it's pretty easy to dig out if you wet the ground well first.

Has a root like a carrot.

As far as poisonous...native americans ate it in various ways. Most didn't die (we assume)...I've eaten the boiled leaves many times...and I'm still typing.
That doesn't mean it's not poisonous...just that the preparation leeches most of the toxin out. Most plants contain some level of toxic compounds to discourage predation.

As you said, "Has a tap root, but pulls out pretty easily." That's all that's needed to get rid of unwanted sprouts.