I found this volunteer about a year ago in full shade. At first I thought maybe it was a baby native phlox, so I left it. Then it developed slightly serrated leaves and I thought it was a yaupon, but they typically grow very fast and skinny as seedlings, and this stayed short and compact. So I thought maybe it was a natural dwarf, and left it.

Now it's about a year old and barely 8" high. The biggest leaves are about 1/2" long. I just noticed that it has skinny, flexible, green thorns. I've never seems flowers or fruit on it.

What is this plant please?

It's growing on my property, in zone 9a gulf coast, very hot and humid, in heavy clay soil (pH 7). It never showed the slightest stress this August, when we had temperatures above 100 degrees and no rain for 2 weeks. It doesn't quite flood in that spot, but it can get a bit mushy after a rain for a day or two, so this can't be a plant that's very picky about drainage.

Thank you!

I believe it is Trifoliate Orange.

Yes, a Flying Dragon (Trifoliate Orange)

Thank you so much, porkpal and Daisyl!

I see that Poncirus trifoliata is on the list of Texas invasive species: https://texasinvasives.org/pla...


I was thinking about transferring it to another shady spot and letting it grow into a shrub if it turned out to be something nice, but it's a meanie. I'll enjoy it where it is for now, and if it ever flowers, I'll compost it. Thanks again for letting me know what it is so I know what to do with it.