How To Grow And Care For Texas Sage

Diana Kirby
·3 min read

No plant takes the heat better than this beautiful blooming bush.

<p>Diana C. Kirby</p>

Diana C. Kirby

Fact checked by Khara Scheppmann

Often referred to as barometer bush, Texas sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) dazzles with bright pink to lavender or white blooms after rainfalls from summer through fall. The silvery leaves of Texas sage offer a visual respite in the height of summer heat. Its gray, green, or silver one-inch leaves are fuzzy, and provide a delicate backdrop for the vibrant flowers.

Once established, Texas sage thrives in rocky soil and rough conditions. Drought- and heat-tolerant, this woody, upright shrub typically grows five to eight ft. tall, and four to six ft. wide. Here's everything you need to know to grow and care for Texas sage.

Plant Attributes

Common Name

Texas Sage, Barometer Bush, Purple Sage, Cenizo

Botanical Name

Leucophyllum frutescens

Family

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family)

Plant Type

Shrub

Mature Size

5-5 ft. tall, 4-6 ft. wide

Sun Exposure

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Soil Type

Rocky, well-drained soil, caliche

Soil pH

Slightly acidic to moderately alkaline

Bloom Time

Summer into fall

Flower Color

Pink, Purple, Lavender, White

Hardiness Zones

8-10 (USDA)

Native Area

North America

Texas Sage Care

Texas sage is a woody evergreen shrub. It thrives in full sun and will tolerate partial shade.  Low maintenance, Texas sage doesn’t mind rocky soil and doesn’t require fertilizing.

Light

Full sun to partial shade will yield the most blooms.

Soil

Texas sage needs good drainage. It will grow in a variety of rocky soils but doesn’t like wet feet.

Water

Once established, it doesn’t need regular watering.

Temperature and Humidity

Texas sage is both heat and cold-tolerant to 12ºF, It blooms with the onset of rain, increased humidity, and changes in barometric pressure.

Fertilize

No need to fertilize.

Types of Texas Sage

  • 'Green Cloud' has light green foliage with dark pink to magenta blooms and is a more prolific bloomer than other varieties.

  • 'Silverado' has fuchsia blooms on silver foliage and is a slightly denser variety.

  • 'Compact' has showy hot pink blooms with silvery leaves and grows only three ft. tall and three ft. wide, providing more planting placement options in the landscape.

  • 'Desperado' is five ft. tall and five ft. wide with silvery-green foliage and lavender-pink blooms.

  • 'Lynn’s Legacy' has dense green foliage with prolific blooms, typically growing to five ft. tall, and five ft. wide.

Pruning

When not in full sun, Texas sage can get leggy.  Prune in late winter to shape and encourage bushier growth.

Propagating

Texas sage can be propagated from semi-hardwood cuttings or softwood cuttings.

How to Grow from Seed

Seeds should be collected before the pod dries and splits open.  Plant in spring after last frost.

Overwintering

Texas sage is evergreen and does not need overwintering care.

Common Pests and Diseases

Texas sage can suffer from cotton root rot if planted without sufficient drainage or if overwatered.  Planting in a sunny location with well-drained soil will prevent this.

Common Problems

Planting in too much shade may lead to leggy plants. Regular pruning will keep Texas sage bushy and full.

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