I am at a loss on this 1. Of course it's an aster. So I don't feel too bad. Here are some pictures and some information:
This plant was located in sandy soil along the edge of a parking lot...... Definitely a disturbed soil. Plant was up to 20" with alternate leaves that seem reduced in size. Leaves to maybe 1" long and less than 1/4" wide with appressed "hairs" to possibly glaucus in color. Bracts hairy but not bristly.

Looks like it's in the genus Centaurea. Possibly C. stoebe, spotted knapweed.

Darn and I discounted that from the beginning. That's the 1st thing I looked at but I thought that was not it thank you.

Not sure about that though. This is a wild plant, not a cultivar. We have cyanus, maculosa, benedicta, and solstitialis in our area that are native, and 2 species seem close, cyanus and maculosa. Not sure. More research and reactions I hope.

The photo in Wikipedia sure does look like it.

It'd be nice if someone else would chime in.

I like maculosus even better.
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/pl...

If this is the correct plant apparently it is extremely invasive. Here's an interesting article:
https://www.invasive.org/weedc...