Description
A Classic from the American Southwest
Texas Sage, also known as Leucophyllum frutescens, is a resilient evergreen shrub native to the Southwest United States and Mexico. It is characterized by its silver to gray-green leaves and vibrant purple or lavender blooms that typically appear after summer rains, earning it the nickname “barometer bush.”
Caring for your Texas Sage
This drought-tolerant plant is well-adapted to arid desert environments and thrives in well-drained soil under full sun exposure. Its hardy nature, paired with its stunning display of flowers, makes it a popular choice for xeriscaping or adding a touch of color to rock gardens.
Texas Sage is also a favorite among pollinators, including bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, enhancing its value for biodiversity. Despite its minimal care requirements, it offers high aesthetic appeal throughout the year.
Light
Texas Sage thrives in full sun, needing at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Though it can tolerate some partial shade, a lack of sunlight may impact its growth and blooming frequency. Therefore, when planting Texas Sage in your garden, choose a location that gets plenty of sun.
Soil
The plant is not particular about the soil type, but it does need well-drained soil. Texas Sage is adapted to the arid, desert-like conditions of its natural habitat and doesn’t tolerate waterlogged soil. If your garden tends to retain water, consider amending the soil with sand or small gravel to improve drainage or plant Texas Sage in a raised bed.
Water
One of the biggest attractions of Texas Sage is its drought tolerance. Once established, this plant can survive on minimal water, making it an excellent choice for water-conscious gardeners or those living in arid climates. However, during the first few weeks after planting, Texas Sage should be watered regularly to encourage a strong root system.
Once established, the shrub can be watered every two to three weeks in the summer, and even less in the winter. It’s better to underwater Texas Sage than to overwater it, as its roots are susceptible to rot in consistently wet conditions.
Fertilizer
As for fertilizing, Texas Sage is well-adapted to poor soil conditions and typically doesn’t require additional nutrients. In fact, overly rich soil or excessive fertilizing can lead to rapid, lanky growth and fewer flowers. If your soil is particularly poor, a slow-release, low-nitrogen fertilizer can be applied in the spring, but this is usually not necessary.
Pruning
Pruning can be done to maintain the size and shape of your Texas Sage, but it’s important to note that the plant has a natural rounded shape and blooms on new growth. Over-pruning or pruning at the wrong time could result in fewer flowers. The best time to prune is in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.
When pruning, avoid shearing the plant into geometric shapes. This not only gives the shrub an unnatural appearance but also encourages growth only at the tips of the branches, resulting in a dense outer layer that shades the interior of the plant. Instead, selectively thin out branches to maintain the plant’s natural shape and promote airflow and light penetration.
Pests and Diseases
Texas Sage is a relatively disease-resistant plant, but it can be prone to root rot if the soil is not well-drained or if it’s overwatered. Ensuring the right watering schedule and soil composition is the best defense against this issue.
As for pests, Texas Sage can occasionally attract whiteflies or spider mites, especially when grown in greenhouse conditions or during particularly hot, dry summers. Regularly inspect the undersides of the leaves, and if pests are spotted, treat the plant with a gentle insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Vicki Payne (verified owner) –
Very nice arrived quickly!!
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Arrived in terrific shape and is doing great,
Gordon O. (verified owner) –
Julia R. (verified owner) –
My plants arrived at my house in EXCELLENT condition! I was delighted to see they were healthy and packaged in a way that would prevent any damage in transit. I will definitely be purchasing plants from PlantVine again.
Christina (verified owner) –
Tom Weiss (verified owner) –
I couldn’t have been more pleased with the condition of the plant and the way you prepped it for travel.
We live in zone 7b southern NJ…which is a stretch for this shrub…but I placed it in a spot that gets full sun while sheltered from the worst of the harsh winter winds.
Thanks and regards
Tom Weiss 😀👍
Anonymous (verified owner) –
The plant is great but the soil was covered in bugs.
Holly Gillies (verified owner) –
Had the plant 6 days so still transitioning but it is healthy looking!!!
Lizabeth Moyer (verified owner) –
This one lost the majority of the leaves during transit. Trying to care for it to save it
Patsy Telchik (verified owner) –
The plants arrived in good shape. I don’t know what happened,but I had to replace 3 of them.
melissa G. (verified owner) –
This plant did not travel well. Hoping he was just shocked and he bounces back. I waited a few weeks to leave reviews. Leaves arrived very dried out and falling off every where.
jonathan glenn (verified owner) –
a beautiful specimen- I’ve never grown (or even seen) this plant before, so I’m really looking forward to watching it develop. I’m in zone 6b, so I will grow all of these in containers and winter them over in the basement.
Samantha H. (verified owner) –
Beautiful! Smaller than I thought, but it’ll grow
Tysha Fisher (verified owner) –
Healthy and beautiful!
Mary –
What is the approximate height and width of the large bush when delivered? Does it come with blooms already?
Ginger Faedtke (verified owner) –
Beautiful, arrived quickly and well packaged. Great condition.
Margaret P. (verified owner) –
Gorgeous/ healthy
Allison –
Does this Texas Sage get taller in tree form or is 6 ft still the average height and spread of the canopy?
Monika Makarewicz –
is root system invasive? im planting one about 6ft from house.
Ernie –
Can this plant grow indoors
Brian Spencer (verified owner) –
Plants arrived very healthy and timely! I enjoyed getting the photos of the actual plants I was being sent. Plants did not go into shock when planted and the overall experience with this company exceeded my expectations as a first time customer. I am not paid or compensated in any way for this review.
John (verified owner) –
Very nice looking plants
Darla O. (verified owner) –
Texas Sage did well during shipping, but there were some broken branches. The plant arrived with some beautiful blooms.
Linda (verified owner) –
Love them!! Very healthy ordered 2 more!!
viet (verified owner) –
Plants arrived on time. They are great looking and healthy. The service is highly recommended. I just ordered another set of three plants from PlantVine
Deborah K. (verified owner) –
The plants were beautifully packaged! They were easy to unwrap and put right in the ground! I will be ordering from you again this winter and next spring!
Cherrie J. (verified owner) –
Shirley Baker (verified owner) –
My experience with Plant Vine was outstanding from the first phone call through final delivery.
Hillary was knowledgeable and professional while communicating genuine care about my highest satisfaction with the service and my new plants.
The first delivery of Texas Sage arrived in excellent condition. FedEx caused the remaining delivery to arrive five days later; however, the excellent preparation by Plant Vine staff ensured the plants were still in good condition. Nothing needed to be replaced!
I have already told friends and neighbors about their plant quality and commendable service.
Thank you Plant Vine for being the standard others should emulate.