Ask the Expert: weed or what?

We’ve lived in our home for 2 years- the previous owner planted an extensive perennial garden in 2004 or 2005. I’m still trying to recognize the perennials each spring… so I don’t weed out the wrong things. What could this be?

I remember Hibiscus in the general area last year, and haven’t seen it this year. Could it be? The leaves don’t look right. Aside from the large cluster in the photo, two individual stems of this have popped up several feet away (where they definitely were not located last year). any help would be appreciated… amber