Summer is the perfect time to look around your neighborhood and see what is thriving in the oppressive Central Texas heat. If you have been thinking about planting in a new area, adding screening or simply rejuvenating an existing landscape, observing what does well at the hottest time of the year should give you some great ideas of what will thrive in years to come.
Texas Sage, also known as Texas Ranger, Cenizo, or Barometer Bush is one of the most prolific bloomers in our hot summers. Abundant flowers appear when humidity is high, often before rains and with a dramatic show of flowers following rainfall-hence the name “Barometer Bush”. The scientific name Leucophyllum refers to the whitish leaves, and Cenizo is the Spanish word for ash, referring to its gray leaves.
Plant Texas Sage in full to part sun in well-drained soil. A minimum of 6-8 hours of direct sun will keep these plants compact and healthy. Give the plant room to grow. Some varieties can grow to 8’ tall and 4’-6’ wide. Although many lawn maintenance crews tend to “shape” this shrub into rounded spheres, it is best to avoid this practice. Selective pruning to maintain a more “natural” shape is aesthetically pleasing, and much better for the plant.
Unfortunately, after many years of shearing into rounded spheres, many Texas Sage plants begin to thin out and lose the leaves in the center of the plant. This is because shearing causes a thick layer of new growth to form on the outside of the shrub and it shades out the leaves in the center of the plant. Many people become disenchanted with this shrub when it does this, not realizing that it is entirely preventable. If this has happened to your Texas Ranger, you can “rejuvenative” prune your shrub back to the ground in late February, and it should grow back to its natural form.
Many species and selected varieties are available to us today, thanks to Horticulturists such as Lynn Lowery. He discovered a new, rare species of Leucophyllum, now called “Lynn’s Legacy” Cenizo, or Leucophyllum langmaniae ‘Lynn’s Everblooming’. This plant achieved “Texas Superstar” status in 2012, and is a more compact growing, drought resistant plant with unbelievable flowering capacity. It has gray foliage and light purple flowers and can grow to 5’x5’. When it blooms, the entire plant is covered with flowers so dense the leaves are no longer visible! It requires extremely good drainage, and will not tolerate heavy soils or seasonally wet areas. Zone 8
‘Desperado’ Texas Sage is a gray-leafed shrub that can grow to 8’ tall and 4’-6’ wide. If at all possible, it is important to plant it where its mature size will not need to be controlled. As I mentioned before, these shrubs look best in their natural form, with only light, selective pruning necessary. Full to part sun and well-drained soils are required. Zone 8
‘Green Cloud’ Texas Sage, Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Green Cloud’, is an older selection with gray-green leaves and magenta flowers. It is often used as screening, and can grow 8’-10’ tall and 4’-6’ wide. It is more forgiving when heavily pruned than some of the other varieties, and can also be cut to the ground to rejuvenate an unsightly plant. Zone 8
‘Heavenly Cloud’ Texas Sage, Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Heavenly Cloud’, is a cross between Green Cloud Sage and Leucophyllum laevigatum. This fast growing Sage with medium green leaves reaches 6′ x 6′ and is hardy to Zone 8.
‘Microburst’ Texas Sage, Leucophyllum candidum ‘Microburst’ PP33437 is a new cultivar introduced by Civano Nursery. Mature size is 3′ x 3′. It has a dense, symmetrical shape, is a prolific bloomer and is tolerant of poorly draining soils. It is hardy to O°F or Zone 7.
‘Purple Rain’ Texas Sage, Leucophyllum laevigatum ‘Purple Rain’ PP35354 grows to 6′-8′ tall and wide and has a dense, symmetrical shape. It’s flowers are lightly fragrant and it is hardy to O°F or Zone 7. It is drought tolerant and tolerates poor soils. It is considered a superior alternative to Heavenly Cloud.
‘Renegade’ Texas Sage, Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Renegade’ has evergreen silver-grey foliage and prolific pinkish blooms which appear after a rain in the summer. It has a loose, rounded growth habit and is drought resistant once established. Growing to 5′-7′ tall and wide it, may be used as a specimen plant or used as screening. Zone 7
‘San Antonio Rose’ Texas Sage, Leucophyllum frutescens ‘San Antonio Rose’ has a tighter growth habit than ‘Compacta’ and has a much larger bloom. It reaches 5′-6′ tall and wide and is hardy to O°F, or Zone 7. This is one of my favorite new introductions.
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‘Rio Bravo’® Texas Sage, Leucophyllum langmaniae ‘Rio Bravo’® has lavender flowers from summer to fall. It has a rounded habit ad grows 5′ by 5’. Zone 8
‘Silverado’ Texas Sage, Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Silverado’ is a selection of Texas Sage that has a dense, round growth habit. It grows to 3′-5′ tall and wide and is full and dense to the base when grown in full sun. Lavender flowers appear after summer rains. Zone 8a
‘Silver Dream’ Texas Sage, Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Gerhjs’ has silver gray-green leaves and lavender-purple flowers on a fast growing plant. Mature size is 6′-7′ x 4′-6′, but it does tolerate light pruning. Plant in well drained soil. Deer resistant. Zone 8
‘Silver Star’ Texas Sage, Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Silver Star’ is a dense shrub with silver-grey foliage and pink blooms in the summer. Drought resistant once established. Zone 8
Photo courtesy of Magnolia Gardens Nursery
‘Summer Snow’ Texas Sage, Leucophyllum laevigatum ‘Summer Snow’ is a white blooming selection by Greg Starr, from a plant growing in Durango, Mexico. It has a natural loose and open form and grows 4′-6′ tall and wide. Zone 8
Blue Texas Ranger, Leucophyllum zygophyllum, is native to the Chihuahuan Desert. It is also known as Cimarron Texas Sage. It’s silver-gray leaves and characteristically cup shaped leaves contrast nicely with the lavender blue flowers. Excellent drainage is required for this Texas Sage. Zone 8
‘Sierra Bouquet’ Texas Sage, Leucophyllum pruinosum ‘Sierra Bouquet’ has deep purple flowers that smell like grape bubble gum. It’s deep purple flowers contrast with the silver foliage. Growing to 6′-8′ tall and wide, it may be pruned to maintain it at a smaller size. Zone 7