My phrasing was confusing. The big plant in the backyard that I wanted to be butterfly weed isn’t, but this little plant, in the front yard, is.

Sorry what?

The branching stems at every node make me think it isn’t Goldenrod, but who knows

I just question the aster ID because it doesn’t seem to have the clasping leaves that asters do

I think I got it as a little sprout from a native plant rescue staffed by volunteers, so IDing it was probably questionable

East Tennessee

And the front yard: