I may have stumbled on the answer but tell me what you think.

A Magnolia?

M. grandiflora Southern Magnolia

Agree with Magnolia grandiflora seedling.

That's what I've been thinking since I first saw it, then I stumbled over a photo of a young nyssa sylvatica someone was selling and it looked awfully much like what I had.

I don't know of any southern magnolias very near my garden (our lots are 1.3 acres or larger), but my neighbor on one side has a lot of huge gum trees.

If there's a chance it's a magnolia, I'm keeping it but if it's a gum tree, definitely not.

Thanks.

Well, you've only given us one picture.

Even with that recalcitrance, I still say it is now and only ever will be a Magnolia grandiflora.

You could take pictures of the undersides of the leaves. You could describe their thickness/texture. You could tell us - since it is in a pot - if it sprouted there or if you dug it up and planted it. If you planted it, what were the roots like?

Or...

Thank you John and all who replied. I do think you have all correctly identified it as a magnolia. If I can remember to do so tomorrow, I'll look at the underside of the leaves and maybe try to take a picture to post.

It appeared in one of my raised beds last year and I dug and potted it this year. I don't remember what the roots looked like.

I think I'll look around the yard for a place to plant a magnolia tree. But how long do I have before it's more than 20 feet tall? I read it can get to 90 feet but I'm 70 years old now and my husband is 84 so can only plan to enjoy/worry about it for maybe 10 years at most. After that, whoever buys this land will scrape it all clean and build a McMansion. 40 years of gardening will be down the drain so I'll enjoy it to the max while it's still available to me.

@daylilly99. In Arizona and NM, new buyers scrape the land and fill in the swimming pools so they can build the McMansions. It's sad, but it's the way it is now.

Thank you, daylilly99, for your 70 years of gardening.

Giving and promoting life is the finest expression of optimism - especially those things that will outlive us. You can only give them a good start and positive guidance.