Burnweed

Why

Burnweed frequently pops up in distressed soils (it gets its name from appearing after fire), so it's unsuprising that it started growing here.

Where

Native range includes eastern and midwestern US

What

Burnweed is generally disliked. It's entirely harmless to humans but people think it's ugly. However, its size (2-8 feet tall) helps it provide habitat for a wide range of insects, and it's been shown to help clean up some types of air pollution. I've found it fun to grow because it's fast and it gets big.