‘Little Lynn’ is unique among the Texas rangers. It stays compact, requires little-to-no pruning, and blooms prolifically throughout the summer, regardless of rain or humidity. Here’s everything you need to know about planting and caring for this “new and improved” Texas ranger hybrid.
‘Little Lynn’ (Leucophyllum x ‘Little Lynn’) is a relatively new hybrid of Texas ranger (Leucophyllum langmaniae), a Chihuahuan Desert native. It has small, fuzzy green-gray leaves and, when in bloom really puts on a show. These shrubs bloom so profusely, its delicate-looking lavender flowers nearly obscure the leaves.
This patented hybrid solves two common problems that plague Texas rangers.
First, it stays compact — three to four feet tall and wide. This is important since Texas rangers usually grow much larger, often outgrowing their space. These leads them to be badly pruned into unnatural, unhealthy, and unattractive shapes. But with ‘Little Lynn’, pruning is rarely, if ever, needed.
Additionally, Texas rangers bloom sporadically in response to increases in humidity. Depending on the variety, some only flower a handful of days each year. (I have one like that. 🙁 ) But ‘Little Lynn’ is less dependent on rain or humidity to flower, and so it blooms more often, usually several times per month from early summer through fall.
Like all Texas rangers, ‘Little Lynn’ is extremely easy to grow. It thrives in the harshest conditions — full sun and poor soil — and needs very little water once established.
Why I Like This Plant
- Delicately beautiful, fragrant flowers
- Blooms often
- Gray-green foliage is evergreen
- Compact, rarely needs pruning
- Extremely low maintenance
- Attracts birds, bees, butterflies
- No thorns, low litter
- Deer resistant
Things to Watch Out For
Some people report having allergic reactions to Texas rangers — not because the shrubs themselves are allergenic, but because their dense, fuzzy leaves are dust and pollen magnets. If this is a problem for you, simply hose them off before pruning, transplanting, or working near them.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding a ‘Little Lynn’ Texas ranger to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
It should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 – 11. It’s extremely heat tolerant and cold-hardy, down to 10℉.
Sun Exposure
‘Little Lynn’ thrives in full sun and needs at least 6 hours per day of full sun to perform its best. With less, it will get leggy and have fewer flowers.
Size and Growth Rate
‘Little Lynn’ is considered a moderately fast grower that reaches a manageable size of 3 to 4 foot tall and wide when mature. It is smaller than most Texas rangers, by design.
Soil
‘Little Lynn’ is not particular about soil. It grows well in any native soil type — rocky, sandy, clay, alkaline, and even caliche — provided it’s well-draining.
Other Location Considerations
Because it has no thorns, is non-toxic, and is nearly litter-free, ‘Little Lynn’ is a plant you can feel comfortable placing near a pool, sidewalk, or anywhere it might come in contact with pets and people.
‘Little Lynn’ Texas Ranger:
The Essentials
| Common Names | ‘Little Lynn’ Texas ranger, ‘Little Lynn’ Texas sage |
| Scientific Name | Leucophyllum x ‘Little Lynn’ |
| Origin | Chihuahuan Desert (hybrid) |
| Plant Type | Evergreen shrub |
| USDA Zones | Zones 7 – 11 |
| Cold Hardiness | To 10℉ |
| Flower Color | Lavender |
| Flower Season | Summer, fall |
| Mature Size | 3-4’ high x 3-4’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Sun Tolerance | Full sun |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Pests & Diseases | Root rot if overwatered |
| Garden Friendly | No thorns, non-toxic, non-allergenic |
| Wildlife | Attracts butterflies, bees birds, hummingbirds Deer resistant |
How to Plant
The rule of thumb when planting any shrub in the desert is to dig a hole three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Amending the soil is not recommended. Counterintuitively, backfilling with the same native soil you just dug up helps your plant develop a stronger root system.
When to Plant
The best time to plant any Texas ranger is in the fall. This gives your shrub three seasons to grow roots and get established before the following summer.
The second best time is in spring, the earlier the better. This still gives your plant time to get established before the intense heat of June arrives.
How to Care for ‘Little Lynn’
Whether you’ve recently planted a ‘Little Lynn’ or have an existing plant in your yard, here’s how to take care of it to keep it healthy and looking its best.
How to Water New Plants
Once you’ve got your Texas ranger in the ground, watering is your most immediate concern. Here is the recommended watering schedule for new shrubs planted in the spring or fall.
| Weeks 1 & 2 | Every 3 – 4 days |
| Weeks 3 & 4 | Every 5 – 7 days |
| Weeks 5 & 6 | Every 7 – 10 days |
| Weeks 7 & 8 | Every 10 – 14 days |
After week 8, gradually extend the time between waterings.
How to Water Established Plants
As your shrub gets established, there are two watering factors to consider.
- First is how often to water. This will vary with the seasons.
- Second is how much water to give your shrub with each watering. This depends on the current size of your plant.
Note that once established, your ‘Little Lynn’ should not need supplemental water during the winter, provided you’ve had typical winter rainfall.
To determine the ideal watering schedule for any Texas ranger, you’ll find everything you need to know, including easy-to-use charts, at How to Water Desert Shrubs: How Often? How Much?
Should You Fertilize?
There is no need to fertilize ‘Little Lynn’. This plant has evolved to get all the nutrients it needs from desert soil.
How to Prune
If planted with its mature size in mind, ‘Little Lynn’ should rarely need pruning. That’s why this compact variety was developed! But if it does need minor shaping or invigorating, prune it late February to early March.
Note that flowers grow on new wood. When you remove new growth, you’ll also be removing summer’s future flowers.
More About This Hybrid
If you go shopping for a ‘Little Lynn’ you may see plant label that states something like this: Leucophyllum langmaniae ‘Little Lynn’ PP36523. The PP indicates that this hybrid has a patent. It was developed by Civano Growers of Tucson and introduced in the fall of 2023.
It was derived from the well-known ‘Lynn’s Legacy’ Texas sage (Leucophyllum langmaniae ‘Lynn’s Legacy’). The Lynn in these plants’ names refers to Lynn Lowrey, an acclaimed horticulturalist and leader of the native plant movement in Texas.
For Plant Lovers
Did you know that not all Texas rangers belong to the same species?
Both ‘Little Lynn’ and ‘Lynn’s Legacy’ are cultivars of Leucophyllum langmaniae, a native of northeastern Mexico that goes by the common names Braue River sage or Rio Bravo sage.
Some such as ‘Heavenly Cloud‘, ‘Convent’, or ‘Green Cloud’, are cultivars of Leucophyllum frutescens. Others, such as ‘Thunder Cloud’ or ‘Silver Cloud’, are cultivars of Leucophyllum candidum.
Texas rangers are often called Texas sage, but are not botanically related to true sages, which are members of the Salvia genus.
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for over 15 years.
