Does anyone know what this is?

Elephant ear plant?

Nah, not elephant ear....burdock?

Burdock...you can eat the root

Grape vine

Burdock.

That sure looks like burdock to me. Are the stems a little white-ish where it joins the base or root of the plant?

Hello. This is burdock. It can grow to be quite large and have leaves similar to rhubarb. Burdock leaves are slightly furry. During the first year of growth the burdock plant is quite close to the ground. During the second year of growth it becomes quite large, can be two feet across, and sends up stalks that produce spiky blossoms that turn into large spiky burrs that will stick into clothing, hair, animal fur and will even stick into your skin when you try to pick the burrs off. It has a long tap root which you have already discovered when you dug it up. If small pieces of the root are left in the ground, then they will in turn grow into new plants. It is difficult to kill, but I have had some success with Roundup. You can glean more information by Googling "burdock".

Kind regards, Laura

if you cut it, cut off the leaves and using a knife peel off the outer layer of the stem. Wash them and then dip in egg wash, roll in breadcrumbs with a little parmesan cheese and salt and fry them. they are delish!!

This is burdock, In japan the root is a vegtable called gobo. The locals here call it Elephant Ear. and eat the stems. Native American's drink a tea from the 1st year root, to remove toxins in the spring and fall. It will also restore color to your white hair.

Looks a lot like Poke Salad.

It is burdock...Wild rhubarb.

This is American pokeweed. Aka poke salad

Do you have a local Cooperative Extension unit? If so, take it there. They can identify it for sure.

I see that plant all the time, I thought it was a poisonous plant.

i think that is Cudzu vine, it will take over trees, even mountain sides

Don't know what it is but you might check out a gardening center, a local agriculture agent, or online for 'invasive (or other description) plant (vine). From the small pictures, it almost looks like leaves of a vegetable plant but can't tell for sure.

I don't think so because I have no idea what that is.

Definitely a burdock. Don’t bother pulling them out. It’ll grow right back. If they grow in a place you don’t want them to be in, the best removal method is to fill up your tea kettle, bring the water to a rolling boil, then dump the boiling water right at the base of the plant where the stems come out from the ground. Depending on the the size of the plant, it may take 2-3 goes at it. You will see it wilt before your very eyes! Kind of cool. It’ll be dead within 24 hours, again depending on its size. This also works on dandelions, or any other weed. Be careful not to get boiling water on anything you want to keep, however. I have a back wooded area, where i have given up the fight and I just let them run wild. The purple flowers are very pretty.

Leaves look like rhubarb.