I am definitely not a weed expert, but the leaves sure do look like a nice plant I had called Lychnis coronaria. I know nothing about it, but someone just told me it's a very rapid spreader, that it seeds like crazy, therefore that's why it could be popping up here and there.

Here's a link that shows bunches of pics, mostly of the bloom, but some of the foliage.

Well, I tried to post the link but got msg. about it contributing to spam, so just Google it. The one I wanted to share was Dave's Garden since that has 44 pics of it.

Mine was mature when I got it (a transplant) so I don't know how it looks when it's small. But it does send up tall shoots before it flowers as you'll see in the pics.

Just a stab in the dark. I'm sure someone else can help and don't mind being corrected.

But if it IS a Lychnis coronaria, it's a very striking plant. Kinda wild looking but the color is amazing.

That's common mullein. It spreads like mad, but it is actually a medicinal herb, and some people grow this stuff. It is of course not native, and is a problem. Anyway, to get rid of it, you can use glyphosate, but you need to apply with a foaming nozzle, or better yet, mix in a surficant, which is something that makes it stick, because the leaves repel water quite well. They have shallow roots, so are easy to pull by hand, but NEVER let it go to seed, or you're doomed!

Joe

I think it's cudweed, which is the host plant for the butterfly: American Lady.

After looking at more photos online, cudweed seems to be the best match.

It shows up in large and small patches. Very distinctive from all the grass and other weeds in it's coloration. From a distance, you can see what seems like a white gray patch in the lawn. Shallow roots. Almost seems like it sends out runners. But definitely has a seed head that pops up. Otherwise seems to grow very low to the ground.

The common mullein has a different leaf with obvious veins.