How to Grow Leucophyllum — Silver Leaf
Leucophyllum–commonly called Texas ranger or silverleaf–is an evergreen shrub native to the American Southwest. Leucophyllum has silvery-green leaves and bears bell- to funnel-shaped rose-purple flowers.
Leucophyllum is drought tolerant and is often found in arid or desert gardens where it can be used as a border or hedge plant. Leucophyllum is also salt-tolerant and can be used in seaside plantings.
Leucophyllum is a genus of 12 species native to the American Southwest and northern Mexico.
Get to know Leucophyllum
- Plant type: Evergreen shrub
- Growing zones and range: Zones 8 to 10
- Hardiness: Hardy to Zone 8
- Height and width: 3 to 8 feet tall and a little wider depending on the variety
- Foliage: Silvery leaves
- Flowers: Open bell-shaped flowers
- Bloom time: Flowers appear at varying times of the year
- Uses: Shrub for desert gardens; clipped hedges, tall ground cover; Leucophyllum is salt tolerant and can be planted near the ocean.
- Common name: Texas ranger, silverleaf
- Botanical name: Leucophylllum
- Family name: Scrophulariaceae
- Origin: American Southwest and northern Mexico
Where to plant Leucophyllum
- Plant Leucophyllum in full sun.
- Grow Leucophyllum in slightly acid, well-drained soil. Leucophyllum will tolerate salty soil.
- Leucophyllum thrives in dry soil.
When to plant Leucophyllum
- Set container-grown Leucophyllum in the garden in spring or fall.
Planting and spacing Leucophyllum
- Space Leucophyllum 3 to 4 feet apart.
How to water and feed Leucophyllum
- Keep the soil just moist. Leucophyllum can withstand drought.
- Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer from spring through summer.
Leucophyllum care
- Leucophyllum can tolerate hard pruning when reshaping is needed.
Leucophyllum pests and diseases
- Leucophyllum is prone to attack by scale insects.
- Stem rot, galls, and powdery mildew can attack.
Leucophyllum propagation
- Propagate Leucophyllum from greenwood cuttings in early summer
- Sow Leucophyllum seed in spring where the plant will grow.
Leucophyllum varieties to grow
- Leucophyllum candidum, violet silverleaf. Dwarf shrub grows to 3 feet tall with rounded compact form; silvery foliage. Cultivar ‘Thundercloud’ has dark purple flowers.
- L. frutescens, Texas ranger, Texas sage. Grows 5 to 8 feet tall and wide with open branching; silvery, woolly leaves; magenta tubular bell-shaped flowers. Cultivar ‘Green Cloud’ has green leaves and purple flowers; ‘Rain Cloud’ has gray leaves and lavender-blue flowers; ‘White Cloud’ has gray leaves and white flowers.
