close-up of glossy leaves

Another one w/off-shoots at bottom.

Certainly looks like it to me.

Thanks Esh! I guess a very wet, mulched habitat encourages LOTS of beautiful foliage in A. syriaca but little in the way of flowers! Probably why you find them most commonly growing at roadsides and other relatively dry areas w/poor soil.

It certainly could be...I don't think we'll know for sure till you see flowers :)

Thanks Dbarron....problem w/that is that A. syriaca around here (mostly on roadside or along RR bank) has already flowered....most asclepias is in the "podding" (is that a word?) stage so I think these plants have possibly missed the boat....they are at least 3 yrs old and have never flowered. Two are fairly well shaded but the third w/the shoots at the bottom is in full sun AND there are 2-3 patches of vigourously flowering A. tuberosa nearby growing under the same conditions.