My established one really took a hit last winter with some top kill. It had gotten so tall that I'd planned to trim it back 1/3 so things weren't so bad but it took its time recovering and fully leafing out. All seems fine now and it finally bloomed, 1st time just last week. The small ones died back to the roots, probably all from that one dip down to +3 degrees or some such ridiculous temp. but after April or somewhere there abouts, they came around, whew! Green Cloud blooms more often and heavier than the silver leaf one but I had to take him out (sob) since it was down by the street turning into a giant. I didn't know they got THAT big. I looked at the article, the one called Silver Cloud sounds like the one I'd really want. I'm going to google to see if there's any sources. Its sold locally around here but I haven't shopped plants the whole season outside of the one sale I went to and trips to Farmer's Market. We don't have the variety like you's guys down in Texas. The woman up the street dug all hers out real early. Duh. I did a serious eyeball roll since she didn't give them a chance to see if they'd made it through or not. She replaced them with--of all things--- Stella D'oro (?) Day Lillie's or what ever the heck they are called----Gads! Like all this city needs is more Stella D. L's. like you see in nearly every formal office planting situation.

Hiya Kati! Welcome to the Forum! I trimmed mine back last weekend and they have already sent out new shoots. I would say if they are really monsterous, I would trim back about 1/2 as much as you want, give them a couple weeks, then trim again. Keep trimming them back until they reach the size you want them to be. These guys are pretty tough, just witness how they are chopped and shaped by maintenance workers all over the place and they still grow and bloom. I kinda like the untrimmed, but controlled look (not easy to get) and my husband prefers to bonsai them into little round balls on the end of gnarled branches. So, we have 1 groomed and one carefully pruned to stay within boundaries, but not look like a squared off bush! HTH Susie

You need to check out Jill Nokes' book, How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest. It gives detailed instructions on rooting various members of the leucophyllum (Texas Ranger) family, including which types are easier to propagate from cuttings, when to take the cuttings, depending on where you live, etc. If your library doesn't have the book, they can probably order it for you through the interlibrary loan system. I finally bought a copy of the book. It has proven to be invaluable in propagation, both from seeds and via cuttings. I don't have a mist system, so sometimes my cuttings don't take, but sometimes they do.

This is the Ranger Cookie recipe from the Wyoming section of my mother's 1949 cookbook: "America Cooks: Favorite Recipes from 48 States." This recipe has been baked by and/or served to 5 generations of our family, so I'd say it is tried and true! I have used other recipes and come back to this one. I have typed the recipe verbatim, including any misspellings. I don't buy shortening, and use butter. I do use a cookie scoop. The recipe does not specify length of cooking time or oven temperature, other than "moderate" oven. RANGER COOKIES 1 cup shortening 1 cup white sugar 1 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal 2 cups Rice Krispies 1 cup shredded coconut Cream shortening and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, mix smooth. Add flour sifted with soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix thoroughly. Add coconut, oatmeal, and Rice Krispies and mix. The dough will be crumbly. Mold with hands into balls size of a walnut. Place on a greased cooky sheet and press slightly. Bake in a moderate oven. This makes almost enough cookies for a roundup or Cheyenne rodeo. There you have it: what I consider THE Ranger Cookie recipe! :-) Jill in Texas