Identify this tall yellow "not a weed"

Farway

Old age has got me, I did know the name of this blighter, but just cant remember it. It's self sown, came in on the breeze or bird, velvety grey / white leaves, about five feet tall

Think it's biannual because it didn't do much last year

I assume it could be classed as weed as it's not the prettiest of plants, but I think it's worthy of Wild Flower tag

Seems to love the dry baking it gets where it has chosen to grow, and makes a striking plant if a bit untidy with flowering, the long spike of flowers opens sporadically

Fence & hollyhock for scale, and a close up

 

RAS

Verbascum, possibly Great Mullein (thapsus).

Farway

Thanks, yep that's definitely what we have

RAS

Seeds quite well, and the grey furry rosettes provide good winter interest. They can always be weeded out in the spring if they are in the wrong place.

Alfrescodave

We have a lot of its relative (?) Moth Mullein which has self seeded and is quite attractive

in_my_wellies

Envy! I have these, self seeded but always eaten by caterpillars before they reach their full potential 

Woolsery

A very striking biennial, used for making flaming torches in ye olden times and possibly due for a revival this winter, or if not for that, then maybe in relation to its more modern epithet, 'The Andrex Plant!'