Will be grateful to anyone whom can help me identify. These plants were spread throughout a patch in my yard. I believe they are naturally there, no one planted them. I live in North Carolina, Zone 8 Thank you.

Looks like an Asclepias of some kind.

I agree asclepias, please leave it for the monarchs.

That was my first thought too, milkweed! I would be pleased to have milkweed on my property. I was looking into planting some for the monarchs, as monarchs are down 90% in N.C .. I'm just hoping it's not dogbane, Dogbane looks very similar to milkweed . I just don't know enough to determine without seeing the flower and/or seed pods. If it is milkweed I was thinking it either common or purple milkweed.

Courtney, you could be right about Dogbane, let it bloom and we shall see.

It does seem more like some of the pictures I've seed of Hemp Dogbane/Apocynum cannabinum.
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