Gardening Ideas Outdoor Plants Shrubs & Bushes How To Grow And Care For Texas Sage No plant takes the heat better than this beautiful blooming bush. By Diana Kirby Diana Kirby Diana Kirby creates inspirational designs for her landscaping firm, Diana's Designs, launched in 2007. For 16 years, she has written for national publications, spoken publicly, consulted, and appeared on television, sharing her extensive knowledge of plants, gardening, design and outdoor living. Her personal gardens have also been featured on television, in print, and in the landscaping book, Deer Resistant Design. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on February 29, 2024 Fact checked by Khara Scheppmann Fact checked by Khara Scheppmann Khara Scheppmann has 12 years of marketing and advertising experience, including proofreading and fact-checking. She previously worked at one of the largest advertising agencies in the southwest. brand's fact checking process In This Article View All In This Article Plant Attributes Texas Sage Care Types of Texas Sage Pruning Propagating How to Grow from Seed Overwintering Common Pests and Diseases Common Problems Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Diana C. Kirby 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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