Possibly Cuphaea ignea???????

Thats definitely a possibility, I will update if it blooms. Thanks

Seems highly unlikely for a cuphea to self sow in a zone 6 climate or survive outside to April.. Doesn't even overwinter in my very mild zone 9!!

Pretty sure the plant was purchased at some time. A friend had moved his mother to assisted living and was emptying out the house.

Regardless if seeded OR purchased, unless kept indoors over winter, there is no way a cuphea would survive a winter in zone 6.

OP gives two zones. Which one is this plant in?

8a. Im pretty commited to natives only in my landscape. I was curious as to what the plant was and will see what it does this summer.

OPs plant appears to have opposite leaves. Iochroma is alternate afaik.

Almost there

Odontonema???

Firesticks, yes most likely. Anxious to see it bloom. Thanks

Odontema strictum is hardy to zone 8b, where it dies back to the ground.https://www.google.com/search?q=odontonema+strictum++has+spread+to+georgia&client=ms-android-verizon&hs=MdgV&sca_esv=2c719d755bc25006&sxsrf=APpeQntM7EOSnsnClXgBh__dIaT88dWYfw%3A1785415187596&ei=E0Zrau2KJL_pmLQPg4eyqA0&biw=384&bih=721&oq=odontonema+strictum++has+spread+to+georgia&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIipvZG9udG9uZW1hIHN0cmljdHVtICBoYXMgc3ByZWFkIHRvIGdlb3JnaWEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigATIFEAAY7wUyBRAAGO8FMgUQABjvBUjNrAFQ1wxYvagBcAJ4AZABAJgBuAGgAZ0fqgEEMC4yOLgBA8gBAPgBAZgCHqAClCHCAgcQIxiwAxgnwgIKEAAYRxjWBBiwA8ICBBAjGCfCAgYQABgWGB7CAgoQIxjwBRjJAhgnwgILEAAYgAQYigUYkQLCAgUQABiABMICBRAhGKsCwgIFECEYnwXCAggQABiABBiiBJgDAIgGAZAGCZIHBDIuMjigB6GwAbIHBDAuMji4B4QhwgcHMi0xNy4xM8gH7QGACAE&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#lfId=ChxjMe

After reading about the plant, I decided that I would try to keep it. Unfortunately, the deer found it last night - grrrr!

Can you protect it? I'm sure no lasting damage has been done.

Yes, I have moved it out of reach. Hopefully it will still bloom.