Texas Sage, Barometer Bush, Ceniza, or Texas Ranger
Leucophyllum frutescens (SCROPHULARIACEAE)
Planting and Growing Texas Sage
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow Texas sage, barometer bush, ceniza, or Texas ranger in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, fruit, and seeds of Texas sage, barometer bush, ceniza, or Texas ranger
- Growing conditions for Texas sage
- When and where to plant Texas sage
- How to plant Texas sage
- How to shape, prune and control growth of Texas sage
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of Texas sage
- Landscape uses of Texas sage
- Pest and disease control for Texas sage
Growing Texas Sage
Several cultivars of slow-growing, compact, evergreen shrubs, 6–8 ft. (1.8–2.4 m) tall and wide, with velvety, mostly gray or silver green, sometimes bright green, oval, pointed, wavy-edged leaves, to 1 in. (25 mm) long, on hairy, arching stalks.
Common cultivars include Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Compactum’ and ‘White Cloud’.
Texas Sage Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Fruit
Showy, bell- or flute-shaped, round-lipped, blue, pink, purple, red, rose, white flowers, to 1 in. (25 mm) wide, usually in summer, form capsulelike fruit bearing seed in autumn. Blooms may follow watering after prolonged drought.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 7–10. Semi-hardy. Best in arid climates.
Soil Type and Fertility
Damp to dry, well-drained, sandy soil. Fertility: Average–low. 6.5–8.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun. Space 3–4 ft. (90–120 cm) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep damp; allow soil to dry between waterings. Drought tolerant. Avoid fertilizing. Prune sparingly. Propagate by cuttings, division, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, banks, fencelines, ground covers, hedges in arid, cottage, meadow, Xeriscape gardens. Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds. Pest and disease resistant.