non-native, weed
pictures taken in may (left) and june (right) (these are two different mullein plants, to be clear)
mullein is a weed introduced to north america by early colonizers. common mullein is an unambitious nuisance weed, rather than an aggressive one; it is a colonizer-type, growing in locations where nothing else grows and moving on quickly once there's any competition at all. it especially likes dry gravelly soil. it can be a serious invasive problem in deserts, where it will prevent the growth of native plants, but anywhere else it's too much of a pushover.
mullein has had a wide range of uses historically - fish poison, torches, footwarmers, herbal medicine (smoked, boiled, poulticed, made into oil, made into tea), and warding off evil spirits. i guess because it's so common and widespread people have tried all kinds of things! not eating it, though; it's very hairy, and even unappetizing as a tea.
its seeds aren't much liked by birds because they're too small, and the hairs on the leaves are too irritating to be attractive to grazing animals, but mullein is beloved by insects of all kinds! it serves as a host plant for dozens of species, including several that are named after it: the mullein moth and mullein thrips. the pests it harbors tend to be more of a problem for farms and gardens than the plant itself, though it must be noted that it harbors plenty of beneficial insects as well as crop-eaters!
mullein blooms from june through august. the plant dies when it's done flowering.