This was bought as a hollyhock.

It looks very similar to the third picture on Danma’s post. A type of Ageratum?

Shysal, I can't grow hollyhocks or foxgloves either but our next door neighbour has them self seeding all over the flipping place.

Think it may be what Danma is showing in the bottom photos ..Aageratum conyzoides. Looks pretty though definately not a hollyhock!

Conoclineum?

I agree, looks like the ageratum in the bottom picture, though I wondered about myosotidium, Antarctic forget me not, as well.

My Plant Net app says it’s Bergamot Mint.

Canklekitten

A weed?

Yet what makes a plant a weed?

Only what people say about it.

It's a Hydrangea. I have several in my garden just like it. Some are pink- some blue & some mauve. Then there is one that is blue & mauve. Very hardy & make good cut flowers. When they dry out in autumn I cut the sprays & spray them silver to make Christmas decorations.

Thank you for the suggestions, please keep them coming. I thing the closest is Adenostyles although that has flowers on stalks which mine doesn't.
A lot of the suggestions are small plants, please note today's photo with garden fork for size comparison, behind which is a real hollyhock.

I just looked up Hollyhocks botanical pictures and there is one on Etsy - it looks like yours is a "baby" hollyhock - I would post it here but I don't know how!!

shysal that puts it into perspective!

No, it's probably not a baby hollyhock

Yet what makes a plant a weed?
Only what people say about it.

A weed is a plant in the wrong place

Lavender hyssops

Use Plant identify App.

The leaf looks like a coleus leaf.

I think it’s a waitandsee plant

Wild tobacco?

Joking apart is it possibly a pink variety of Phlomis?

It does look rather like a Hydrangea.

I've Googled your picture and this is what it say's
Possible related search: lantanas

I Googled the image and it came up with lanata. It looks just like yours.

Same! Might possibly be a verbena, part of lantana family, if I read it right.

I believe it is butterbur (petasites hybridus); the large leaves of which were used many years ago to wrap butter to keep it cool on the way to market.

The stems were dried and made into herb teas to help alleviate the symptoms of migraine or hay fever. However, as with other medicinal plants, some people can suffer unpleasant reactions, so I probably wouldn't risk it myself.

It grows wild; and I think you should take it back to the seller for a refund/exchange for the hollyhocks you wanted!

However, it would be cheap to buy a pack of hollyhock seeds, sprinkle them in a sunny and sheltered spot, and keep them watered regularly to begin with. They will grow in any old rubbish where soil is concerned - I had great success with them in a patch by the stone steps of my front door which was little better than brick dust!

Could it be any form of Salvia? I know there are several different forms.

I’ve got Butterbur growing wild all over the garden (grrr!) and it’s not that.