Thanks, flora_uk, I'll keep an eye on it and see if we can get it a little more healthy to get a better ID. It's definitely woody, though, which is why I included some of the stem in the photo. Those twigs were familiar to me as well, but I can't place them. Last week, we cut down the 8 ft. tall native privet trying to consume the back yard and I found a miniature rose bush under all those weeds, just begging for some sunshine!

Hi! I also agree! Thank you for your help. I checked out pix on the web.... and I believe you both re 100% right! I just need to figure out if it will survive the winter here.... one site said that it would... it would just die back to the ground and then come back next year.... and another said that it would just up and die period. Will continue to research.... have a while before it will get chilly enough to worry about it... and I will keep it in the pot until I know for sure! Thanks again!

Thanks June. I definitely see the resemblance to Celosia but for the bend and scalloping in the leaves. Truthfully, I've never seen a Celosia more than 2" tall or so, usually from multi-pack trays at the big box stores. I'd say this plant isn't quite as compact as my extremely limited experience with Celosia. I did repost this over on the Name That Plant Forum, and the two suggestions thus far are Acanthaceae or Amaranthaceae, neither of which are a perfect match. Here is a link that might be useful: Name That Plant Forum

It does look like a lot like a slightly chlorotic Chinese lantern, Physalis alkakengi. And that would certainly fit with your description of taking up a lot of real estate :-) This is a pretty rapacious plant with regards to spreading and not all that easy to control or remove - many gardeners rue the day they planted it.....just a warning!