Texas sage bushes add dazzling purple flowers to a spring pollinator garden. The Texas sage shrub is a native plant to the Southeastern United States that grows well in the USDA hardiness zones 8 to 11. To grow Texas sage is low maintenance compared to other plants, and they work well in low rainfall areas to brighten the outdoor space. The best part is they look great with other plants.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Leucophyllum frutescens is an evergreen shrub in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, native to the U.S. state of Texas, where it is the official “State Native Shrub of Texas”, and to the states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas in northern Mexico. Although commonly known as Texas sage, it is not a true sage and is distinct from the genus Salvia. The species is also called Texas Ranger, Texas rain sage, cenizo, Texas silverleaf, Texas barometerbush, ash-bush, wild lilac, purple sage, senisa, cenicilla, palo cenizo, or hierba del cenizo.
This species is found in rocky, calcareous soils.
The evergreen shrub can grow up to six feet tall and spread six feet wide. The plant is native to Texas and Mexico, growing on rocky slopes in alkaline soils. One thing that stands out is the beautiful gray-to-silvery foliage due to the fine silvery hairs on the leaves.
Furthermore, it is an excellent plant with a fantastic purple blossom display from summer to fall. As the plant blooms after the rainfall, it has received the exciting name barometer bush. The flowers do not bloom long but can bloom several times in the growing season.
Once the flowers are spent, two valved capsules take their place.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Texas sage needs full sun to thrive and looks best when it receives at least 8 hours per day of direct sunlight. While it can tolerate light shade, plants may become thin and leggy and produce fewer flowers.
Temperature and Humidity
Texas sage loves extreme heat and low humidity. It is hardy to 10°F, although it may lose some leaves if it becomes that cold. Any colder, and the plant might die back to the ground and need to regrow from the roots.
Texas sage performs best with low humidity. High nighttime temperatures combined with constant high humidity can prove fatal.
Watering
In a landscape situation, providing water to the plant will encourage flowering. Plants in un-irrigated sites will still perform well but will only produce blooms after rains. This drought tolerant shrub needs no supplemental watering during winter.
During the growing season, excess irrigation will cause growth spurts, requiring more frequent pruning. As a water-wise plant, it needs to be watered deeply but infrequently. Texas sage is used frequently as an informal hedge or foundation specimen. If planted where moisture collects. Place the plant in a berm or hill.
After being planted, young Texas sage plants should be given supplemental irrigation.
Soil
Cenizo thrives where many plants cannot. In the wild, it grows on rocky slopes and calcareous soils. It is somewhat salt tolerant and may be used in coastal landscapes. Texa sage prefers alkaline soil, but if planted in acid sites, application of dolomitic limestone will adjust the soil pH.
The plant doesn’t enjoy clay soil, but any other type will be fine. Ideal soil conditions are rocky or in crushed limestone. Plants that are installed in soil that was agriculturally prepared can get root rot in late summer. Good drainage is essential. Amend soil or select a more appropriate location for the plant if soil holds moisture excessively.
Fertilizing
It is best to avoid using any fertilizer around this plant. Texas sage thrives naturally in soil with very low fertility and suffers when too much fertilizer is applied.
Planting Instructions
Plant Texas sage in spring or autumn to allow healthy roots to develop before the blistering heat of summer or the risk of a freeze in winter. Consider the fully grown size of the plant when choosing a site. Allowing enough space for it to mature into a healthy specimen is vital.
Texas sage resents wet soil. If your soil holds water and doesn’t drain, plant Texas sage in a large planter or well-draining raised bed.
Dig a hole as deep as the top of the roots and as wide as the pot. Loosen the surrounding soil, but don’t add any compost or fertilizer. Texas sage grows best without extra fertilizer or nutrients. Water the new plant and surrounding soil heavily and allow it to rest for two to three days. Check the root ball of the plant daily and water it again when the top couple of inches are dry. Continue until the plant develops new roots and no longer sits loosely in the planting hole.
Add a light, 1- to 2-inch layer of mulch to the new planting, but make sure the mulch doesn’t come into contact with the base of the plant, which might cause problems with insects and rot in the future.
Pruning
The best time to prune your shrubs is late winter or early spring. Even healthy Texas sage plants benefit from occasionally thinning out old branches and tipping back (cutting or pruning) the ends of the stems to stimulate new growth along the entirety of the plant. This alleviates any legginess that occurs naturally over time.
For a formal look, shear the plants with manual or powered shears, creating individual shapes or one continuous hedge. If you choose to hedge the plants, it is essential to “pluck” or thin the hedge to allow sunlight and airflow into the center of the plant. Plucking stimulates growth on the interior of the plant and reduces the “shell” effect that regularly sheared plants develop. This is achieved by removing fist-sized pockets of dense growth every 12 to 18 inches around the entire plant at least once a year.
Propagation
Propagate Texas sage by seeds or cuttings. Collect the tiny seeds before the seed capsule dries completely and splits open, and store the seeds in a cool and dry place, such as the refrigerator. Seeds can be started immediately in the greenhouse or directly in the garden any time after the season’s last spring frost. Scratch seeds lightly into the soil and water regularly until germination occurs. Then, reduce watering, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
Texas sage can also be propagated by softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings taken from the current year’s growth. Cut 4 to 6 inches from the tip of a stem. Remove the foliage from the bottom half of the stem cutting. Dip the end in rooting powder and place it in a pot with well-draining potting soil in a bright place with indirect ligh
t. Water the potting mix lightly and spritz the plants regularly with water. Don’t let the soil dry completely, but avoid keeping it fully saturated. Cover the pot with clear plastic or spritz the plants several times throughout the day until root growth begins. Rooting can take a few weeks to several months.
Potting and Repotting
Small varieties can grow in large pots with excellent drainage and enough sunlight. Ensure the planter has drainage holes and that the potting soil drains quickly. Although Texas sage prefers low-fertility soils, potted plants need a light application of a balanced fertilizer, such as a slow-release 10-10-10 or 14-14-14 early in the growing season (April-May). As the plant outgrows its container, move it to another container one size larger.
Pests and Diseases
This easy-to-grow shrub has few pests and problems. The number one threat to Texas sage is cotton root rot caused by the fungus Phymatotrichopsis omnivora. Fungal outbreaks occur in warm, damp soil. Symptoms of cotton root rot include dead and dying leaves that remain attached to the plant.
Avoid the temptation to water this incredibly drought-tolerant shrub to limit exposure to the fungus. If you suspect your Texas sage plant has cotton root rot, contact the local agricultural extension office to discuss treatment options for your region. Cotton root rot can survive in the soil for many years, and the best method of control is prevention. If cotton root rot is present in your garden, you may need to restrict your plantings to plants that are immune or tolerant to the disease.
Powdery mildew occasionally occurs during periods of warm and humid weather. The best way to avoid powdery mildew is good airflow and ample sunlight.
III. Texas Sage Varieties
In the Texas sage, you can find quite a few varieties to grow together in your garden. As you can see, this is an easy-care plant.
- Texas Sage “Silverado”
This Texas sage is a popular variety with compact rounded growth. You get a display of rosy purple flowers best planted in direct sun.
- Texas Sage “Desperado”
The plant is drought resistant, with silvery gray foliage and lavender blooms. It also has compact growth and looks great growing as a hedge.
- Texas Sage “Compact”
Another shrub with silver to gray foliage covered with lavender to magenta blossoms that needs moderate water and full sun.
IV. Uses and Benefits
Texas ranger is a wild flowering shrub that has great ornamental appeal with its gray-green leaves and abundant flowers. The plant’s dense growth makes it a good choice for hedging, but it is showy enough to be grown as a standalone specimen. Texas ranger makes a great addition to a Mediterranean garden but also does well in containers. It grows well with other dry climate plants like agaves and yuccas.
