Mugwort is a common plant that you can find throughout the world, even in NYC. Mugwort is often considered a weed though it has a long tradition of being used globally in foods, medicines, and for spiritual purposes. This website is a brief introduction to the plant and it's many uses.
The photo above is mugwort I spotted on 14th street in Manhattan next to the Pratt campus. I see mugwort growing all over Brooklyn on roadsides, sidewalks, and empty lots.