When I moved to North Carolina in 2004, there were some things I missed from my old Southwest garden. After two years, I caved into my Southwest cravings. By last October, I just had to get my hands on my beloved Texas Rangers (the plant, not the law-enforcement group…or baseball team). I called Starr Nursery in Tucson, AZ, to order a dozen of these plants, and I chose Leucophyllum langmaniae ‘Lynn’s Legacy’, a selection known for its ability to withstand cold, as well as its many blooms.
This Texas Ranger started out as just a 6-inch starter wrapped in newspaper in October 2006. In just one year it’s more than tripled in size!
Photo Credit: Lynn Means
Delicate lavender flowers bloom in great numbers as summer temperatures and humidity rise.
Photo Credit: Lynn Means
My little beauties arrived via Priority Mail, individually wrapped in newspaper – and amazingly unharmed by their cross-country journey. It was hard for me to imagine a landscape without these shrubs, and I was so excited to see them! While the many shades of green in Carolina gardens are a wonder in their own right, it was so nice to think of our green space being politely interrupted by this clean, hardy, low-maintenance plant with sprays of gorgeous purple flowers and soft, sage-colored leaves.
As natives to the shrublands of Texas and Mexico, Texas Rangers are known for how well they thrive in poor soil, heat and humidity. Amazingly, they’re also cold-hardy to 5 degrees F or below, and they grow comfortably in zones 7-10. This is why I thought they might work well in my yard.
One of the really great aspects of Texas Rangers is that they put on their best show during the hot, humid days of summer – when many plants wilt and most of us are considering the risks of heatstroke. Also referred to as barometer bushes, Texas Rangers have gorgeous blooms that intensify as the humidity and heat index soar.
These tough semievergreens grow just the right size for many spaces, reaching about 3-5 feet tall and wide. It’s best to plant them about 3 feet apart in full sun or in hot spots with southern or western exposure. These shrubs do particularly well around a foundation or patio, or flanking a driveway entrance. And if you’re into Xeriscaping, they’re practically a must. Texas Rangers also blend nicely in a mixed border; or consider using them as a hedge to create a wall of purple blooms. The possibilities are endless.
Like the real Texas Rangers, these shrubs are tough. They don’t like fertilizer or compost, and they’re hesitant to bloom in rich soil. But these hardy guys do like a little TLC at first, which means using some potting soil at planting and adding moisture until they’re well-established. But then stop all that care and start to treat these shrubs like the desert plants that they are. (And do watch how much you water: If they get too much, you’ll wind up with floppy branches and fewer blooms.)
Another delightful thing about Texas Rangers is that they really don’t need pruning because their natural shape is round and dense. But if you can’t resist the urge to love these guys with your pruners, do so only sparingly in spring. If you shear these shrubs into harsh shapes, you’ll remove the flower buds and destroy your summer display.
I planted my ‘Lynn’s Legacy’ Texas Rangers last fall on a sunny slope, held my breath and waited for the onset of winter. Could they survive the typical North Carolina ice storms and fickle temperature swings of winter? Yes, indeed! In just one year, my Texas Rangers have tripled in size, and they haven’t stopped blooming. I can assure you that just like the real high riders, these Texas Rangers will be proud defenders of plant variety in your landscape!
