Riyadh Plants
Texas Ranger, Texas Sage
Texas Ranger is a dense, grey-leaved shrub native to Texas and Mexico. Slow-growing, it reaches a height of 2.5 metres with an equal spread. The silvery-grey, soft leaves form a compact foliage and the masses of rose-purple flowers sometimes cover the whole plant, providing a splash of bright colour in summer and a pleasant fragrance in spring. L. frutescens requires full sun and likes intense heat: in the shade, it will become straggly. It is highly drought-resistant and grows best on well-drained, alkaline, sandy soil, which can be poor or stony. Being frost-tolerant, moderate watering is required, occasionally deep in summer, and waterlogging should be avoided. Propagation is by cuttings. Generally pest-free, it is susceptible to Texas (Cotton) root rot. This shrub is well adapted to desert conditions and was first introduced into Arriyadh’s residential areas in the early 1980s (CE) at the Staff Housing project for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where it was observed that it could also be sheared into hedges and shapes. There are many cultivars with a range of flower and leaf colours. It is excellent as a colourful accent and contrast to other greener plants, and for planting in transition zones between intensive and extensive landscapes. It can be used on roadsides, in parks and as a screen. Maintenance requirements are low; pruning back creates denser foliage.
