I’ll keep a watch out for any plants with flowers on them. They grow pretty slowly though- (not like these darn Cat’s Ears!) – so it might be a while before they produce any flowers or fruit. After looking at many pictures of this plant, I’m fairly sure you’re right about the Euphorbia though.

With the milky sap & the tap root, I’m leaning more toward Euphorbia. Hopefully you would be able to either have the flower again or its fruits. Thanks for the feedback Jim! Laura

I checked several plants this evening. All the leaves are alternate all the way up. The reason for the top leaves looking opposite is that they are so close. The stem is woody and hairy. The leaves bleed milky sap as does the stem and root when it is broken. Since I found several dozen of these after looking through the back yard, I dug one up. The root is very thick and deep. I looks less like a tapered tap root and more like an irregular perennial or rhizome that goes (generally) straight down. If it helps I can repost the pix tomorrow. Thanks for looking at this!

Link for Euphorbia corollata. http://wisflora.herbarium.wisc.edu/taxa/index.php?taxon=3601

Hi Jim, yes darn deer :)! Too bad the flower’s center is blurry to tell for certain. I’m taking a guess for now, maybe something in the Euphorbia? Check out E. corollata) and false flowering spurge (E. pubentissima) from the included link below. Again, flower’s center, fruits & milky sap are needed to confirm or rule out the suggested genus. Best to you Jim. Laura Link for E. pubentissima. http://www.namethatplant.net/plantdetail.shtml?plant=564

I just looked at this thing in the back yard. It’s got a woody hairy stem for sure. And yes the leaves are alternate at the bottom, but where the flower stems (used to be) the leaves are opposite. I forgot to tear a leaf off. I was trying to find the one that hadn’t been nibbled. Darn deer!

And those were the best pictures I had of the flower! I’m afraid it’s through blooming for the year.

Thanks Laura, Unfortunately the deer have already nibbled the tops out of these! I was so disappointed. I’ll try to find one that hasn’t been topped.

Please resubmit with closeup center of flower, side view of the whole main trunk. Also careful and tear off some leaves and see any oozing white sap. Although the leaves are opposite at the top. It appears the leaves are alternate on a lower part of the trunk (?). Thank you & best wishes!