Dogwood

While this may be a pathetic looking plant, it is a Dogwood. A Roughleaf Dogwood to be precise. From what I can tell it's the only white berried dogwood in Texas.
It's common in East Texas and is what is referred to as an "understory" plant as it frequently grows under trees, though when grown in full sun it looks more like a thick shrub than a mini-tree. It rarely will get up to 15 feet. Roughleaf Dogwood blooms more profusely in direct sun then when it's in full shade. The trunks are very thin and flimsy looking and each plant is usually multi-trucked.
It has smooth, shiny, entire* leaves that turn vibrantly red in the fall. The leaves grow oppositely, are about 2-5 inches long, and are mostly ovular.
The stems are slightly reddish and contrast nicely with the white. The clusters of flowers are white and are visible April through August, the flowers themselves being about 1/4 inch and four petaled. And the hard berries are white and show up in August and stick around until whenever they're all eaten or fall off.

Dogwood grows best is moist soils which is why, I'm guessing, all the ones I've seen have been looking a little less than pristine.


*"Entire" in the context of leaves means no serrations, completely smoothed edged.