Of course I pick up every seed I find and plant it. This is the third year for this tree/shrub and I still can't ID it. Can anyone help me out. The foliage is lighter on the underside and on new growth, the young stems are zig-zaged. Any help would be appreciated

I have no idea what it is, but it is very pretty, I would wait and see what it does.

Yes, that is what I've been doing. But I would love to know what it is. Thanks for your response.

Does this plant produce any flowers at all? How tall is it? Is there a red tinge to any of the stems?

Please look at Japanese Knotweed...

That's exactly where I was going with my questions. If this is Japanese knotweed, you cannot get it out of your yard fast enough...and dig down deep and sift the soil where it was, and keep a very close watch on it for about the next 10 years. The zig-zag stems and alternate leaves are what tipped me off. It is probably the most invasive plant on earth. I have been battling it for over 20 years in my yard. I did not know what it was at first and I also thought it was nice looking, but don't make the mistake I did and leave it there. Here are some pictures:

Well, you got your answer, sorry it isn't something good, but still is pretty.

No this is a woody plant. I know Japanese knotweed. My shrub/tree has different foliage. The mature foliage has a cordate base and the veining is different that knotweed. It took a whole year for the seed to germinate. It is only 3' after 3 years and the second seed that grew is much slower and only 1' tall after 3 years. But thank you for your thoughts.

Well you ladies had my heart pumping thinking I missed something. I've been known to be wrong about 10 times a day. I ran out and sure enough it is a woody stem so here is a picture of the bark and you can see the roots. My property is on a steep pitch and in strong rain top soil keeps getting washed away. So anyway, here is another view of the plant and thank you because now my blood is pumping and I have energy to clean.

Oh good...now I'm breathing again. However, I have no idea what it could be.

Whew. That's a relief. Now we can start again without panic.

I have spent some time trying to figure out what this is. I can find some trees and shrubs that have zig zag stems but the leaves aren't right. I am flummoxed

There are a few: Cercis canadensis branches have a zig zag, Celtis occidentalis, Gleditsia triacanthos have the right stems but compound foliage, Kerria japonica, Neillia sininsis, Neviusia alabamensis, Ostrya virginiana, Davidia involucrata stem are somewhat in youth but I don't remember the other ones and normal Tree ID's usually only have the common plants. So, as you I am still searching. for all your time.

Do you have any seeds left which you can photograph? If not, can you give an approximate description of size and appearance?

You said you picked up the seed, what type of locality was that? If you picked the seed up, there should be the parent of it nearby unless it was transported by natural means from elsewhere. A parent plant would have flowers in order to produce seed, some investigation into that might help if it wasn't too far away.

I'm old so that is my excuse for not remembering the seed. I plant everything I can get my hands on just to see if I can grow it. Sooner or later as you point out it will get some type of flower and THEN! Unfortunately, I was at an Arboretum so it could be just about anything. Thanks for your thoughts♥

Arboretaum would have a list of plants. Can you remember the name and/or location of the Arboretum?

TH, I came up with a similar list. Persian parrotia was another that I don't think you had. Frustrating.

TH, I came up with a similar list. Persian parrotia was another that I don't think you had. Frustrating.
Good idea to check with the Arboretum!

Yes, I know where I got the seeds only because I keep a journal. I will ask next time I go. Thanks for the idea.

Go where? to the Arboretum? Which Arboretum is is, please.