Pronounciation: Lou-co-FIL-lum zi-go-FIL-lum

Hardiness zones:
Sunset 7-24
USDA 8-11

Landscape Use: Accent, informal hedge, filler shrub for xeric landscape design styles.

Form & Character: Rounded to irregular, gray, recessive, blue, arid, dry looking.

Growth Habit: Evergreen to partially deciduous, woody, broadleaf perennial shrub that is somewhat smallish and dense, growing (without pruning) to 4- to 7-feet tall with equal spread.

Foliage/Texture: Mostly opposite, densely tomentose, whitish silver foliage and young stems, leaves rounded and slightly cupped; medium fine texture.

Foliage tidbit: Blue Ranger is a Leucophyllum species with an opposite leaf arrangement. Most all other Leucophyllum species seen in Phoenix landscapes have foliage that is alternately arranged on the stem.

Flowers & Fruits: Single, axillary magenta to indigo blue flowers that attract both bees and flies; fruit inconspicuous.

Seasonal Color: Blue ranger is a showy bloomer especially during the fall, with magenta to blue flowers contrasting against a whitish gray leaf backdrop.

Temperature: Hardy to 10^oF, very heat tolerant.

Light: Full sun, absolutely no shade.

Soil: Tolerant

Watering: Blue ranger should not be irrigated during the winter months except during times of extreme winter drought (such as the great Phoenix winter drought of 2005-06). Otherwise, irrigate blue ranger regularly, but infrequently during summer.

Pruning: Blue ranger requires little pruning if planted in the right location. Head back lightly in late February, and please, do not shear! Easily maintained at a working height of 3 feet.

Propagation: Vegetative softwood cuttings during summer.

Disease and Pests: In the Phoenix area, Texas root rot is possible in heavy soils of former agricultural use, particularly those that grew cotton in earlier decades.

Additional comments: Leucophyllum zygophyllum var. cimarron is relatively smaller shrub and is a great varietal selection for Phoenix landscape borders. It is also a nice substitute for Leucophyllum candidum var. thunder cloud in Phoenix landscapes with clay soil because it is slightly less prone to root rot.

A special note: Blue ranger was originally collected for horticultural cultivation in southern Nuevo Leon by Warren Jones and Bill Kinneson in the late 1970's.