Leucophyllum fructescens (Texas Ranger)
- TropPlant Accession Number (TPAN): 0021
- Botanical Name: Leucophyllum fructescens
- Common Name: Texas Ranger, Texas Sage, Barometer Bush
- Cultivar: 'White Cloud'
- Family: Scrophulariaceae
- Native To: South Texas and Northern Mexico
Leucophyllum fructescens leaves and flowers
Photo by Matthew Gaston
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Leucophyllum fructescens 'White Cloud' leaves and flowers
Photo by Matthew Gaston
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Landscaping Information
- Plant Type: Shrub
- Texture: Dense, Coarse
- Form: Mound to Irregular
- Height (on average, in landscape use): 8'
- Height to Spread Ratio: 1:1
- Growth Rate: Medium
- Landscape Values: Accent, Background, Border, Color, Edging, Facer, Filler, Foundation, Framing, Hedge, Mass, Quick Effect, Screen, Space Division
- Outstanding Quality: Flower Color, Foliage Color, Foliage Characters
Leucophyllum fructescens
Photo by Matthew Gaston
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Leucophyllum fructescens 'White Cloud'
Photo by Matthew Gaston
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Botanical Descriptions
- Flowers: 1" long, tubular, rose to violet colored flowers with brown speckles in the throat and 5 stamens. 'White Cloud' has white flowers of the same morphology
Leucophyllum fructescens flower
Photo by Matthew Gaston
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- Fruits: Small capsule, inconspicuous
- Foliage Color: Young/immature: Soft Green. Mature: gray green to silvery green.
- Foliage Tip: Rounded to Obtuse
- Foliage Base: Acute
- Petiole: Sessile
- Stipules: N/A
- Margins: Smooth
- Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
- Leaf Shape: obovate
- Leaf Type: Simple
- Leaf Texture: Soft, fuzzy, pubescent, velvety on both sides.
- Leaf Special Notes: silvery pubescent leaf. a sexy leaf indeed.
- Bark and Trunk: Brown stems, pubescent when young, smooth to peeling when mature.
Leucophyllum fructescens leaves
Photo by Matthew Gaston
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Leucophyllum fructescens adaxial leaf surface
Photo by Matthew Gaston
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Leucophyllum fructescens abaxial leaf surface
Photo by Matthew Gaston
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Horticultural Information
- Light Preference: Full Sun
- Light Tolerances: Semi-Sun
- Soil Preferences: Alkaline, Sand, Dry (Xeric), Well-Drained.
- Tolerances: Moderate Winds, Humidity, Regular Watering, Drought
- Water Requirements: Naturally grows in dry lime soils. Water infrequently. It is known to flower when the humidity is high and/or when watered thoroughly.
- Notes on Maintenance: Low maintenance, usually not affected by pests or pathogens, scale and cotton root rot are potential threats. (see first photo for scale infestation)
- Propagation: Cutting
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 8a
- Weed Risk Assessment Score (WRA): -3, Low Risk