Texas sage is a warmth and drought - large-minded aboriginal shrub for the Southwestern garden that bear pink and purple bloom throughout the season .
Texas sage(Leucophyllum frutescens)provides a welcome dab of colour in the harshSouthwestern landscapethanks to its evergreen facile - grayish leaves and copiousness of flush in shades of purple , pink , and lavender . This springy shrub care drought , rocky soil , and intense rut — even preferring these status and thriving in locations where many other plants would wither into dust .
Denny Schrock
Credit:Denny Schrock
Although usually referred to as Texas salvia , it is n’t link to the Salvia genus ( salvia ) . One of its more tending names is barometer bush . This bush reacts to increased humidness before and after rainfall by blooming seemingly out of nowhere .
Where to Plant Texas Sage
Plant Texas salvia in an area that receivesfull sunand has well - drained grunge that is not nutrient - rich . Although it will originate in a shady location , it wo n’t thrive . Be indisputable to place your shrubs in an area that does not receive extra moisture , as Texas salvia can not handle prolonged stop of wet soil . This durable bush can be used as a formal hedging , a declamatory accent flora , or as part of a naturalized planting mirroring the Southwestern Texas landscape , where it farm naturally .
Texas sage is not list as invasive in the United States but has been know to self - seed and cultivate in parts of California , Arizona , and Florida .
How and When to Plant Texas Sage
Plant Texas sage in springiness or autumn to allow healthy roots to develop before the scald heat of summer or the risk of a frost in winter . count the full develop size of the works when choosing a site . appropriate enough place for it to ripen into a goodly specimen is critical .
Texas sage resents crocked soil . If your soil holds water and does n’t drain , plant Texas sage in a big plantation owner orwell - draining raised bed .
Dig a maw as deep as the top of the roots and as wide-cut as the pot . Loosen the smother stain , but do n’t sum up any compost or fertilizer . Texas sage acquire best without excess fertilizer or food . Water the novel plant and border soil heavily and tolerate it to rest for two to three days . control the radical ball of the industrial plant daily and water it again when the top couple of inches are teetotal . proceed until the plant educate new roots and no longer posture loosely in the planting yap .
Credit: Amy Haskell
add together a light , 1- to 2 - inch bed of mulchto the new planting , but verify the mulch does n’t amount into contact with the base of the works , which might cause problem with insect and rot in the future .
Texas Sage Care Tips
This gentle - to - grow evergreen shrub asks only for full Sunday andwell - debilitate dry soil . It grows well in the American Southwest but struggles in wetter and cooler area of the United States .
Light
Texas sage require full sun to thrive and looks best when it receives at least 8 60 minutes per day of lineal sun . While it can tolerate light wraith , plant may become thin and long-shanked and produce fewer flush .
Soil and Water
These shrubs of course spring up in rocky , alkaline soilwith very humbled nutrients and little water . Watering established plant in summer may serve them grow quicker , but too much urine can direct to root rot , which is deadly . An established specimen can easily last for week or months without weewee . If you prefer to water , tolerate the soil to dry completely before irrigate again .
Temperature and Humidity
Texas salvia eff utmost heat and low humidity . It is hardy to 10 ° F , although it may lose some leave-taking if it becomes that cold . Any colder , and the plant life might die back to the reason and need to regrow from the ascendant .
Texas sage performs best with low humidity . High nighttime temperature combine with constant eminent humidity can try fatal .
Fertilizer
It is best to avoid using any fertilizer around this works . Texas salvia boom naturally in soil with very low fertility and stick out when too much fertiliser is applied .
Pruning
The in effect metre toprune your shrubsis belated wintertime or early spring . Even healthy Texas sage plants benefit from occasionally thin out sure-enough subdivision and tipping back ( film editing or pruning ) the end of the stems to stimulate new ontogeny along the entirety of the plant . This alleviates any legginess that occurs naturally over clock time .
For a formal smell , fleece the plants with manual or powered shears , create single shapes orone uninterrupted hedge . If you pick out to duck the plants , it is substantive to “ pick off ” or thin the hedge to appropriate sunlight and airflow into the shopping mall of the plant . Plucking stimulates growth on the Interior Department of the plant and reduces the “ shell ” effect that regularly shear plant formulate . This is attain by removing clenched fist - sized sac of dense growth every 12 to 18 inches around the entire plant at least once a year .
Potting and Repotting Texas Sage
Small varieties can grow inlarge pots with excellent drainageand enough sun . Ensure the plantation owner has drain holes and that thepotting soil drains promptly . Although Texas salvia prefers low - fertility soils , potted plants need a light program of a balanced fertilizer , such as aslow - acquittance 10 - 10 - 10or 14 - 14 - 14 ahead of time in the arise time of year ( April - May ) . As the plant outgrow its container , move it to another container one sizing larger .
Pests and Problems
This promiscuous - to - grow bush has few pests and problems . The number one threat to Texas salvia is cotton tooth root rot make by the fungusPhymatotrichopsis omnivorum . Fungal outbreaks occur in warm , dampish soil . symptom of cotton root bunk let in dead and dying parting that remain attached to the plant .
ward off the temptation to water this incredibly drought - tolerant bush to restrict exposure to the fungus . If you suspect your Texas sage works has cotton wool root rot , get in touch with the local agrarian extension phone position to talk about handling pick for your region . Cotton root bunk can survive in the territory for many years , and the good method acting of ascendance is bar . If cotton fiber beginning rot is present in your garden , you may involve to restrict your plantings to plant that are resistant or resistant to the disease .
Powdery mildew once in a while occurs during periods of warm and humid conditions . The skilful mode to avoidpowdery mildewis good airflow and ample sunlight .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
How to Propagate Texas Sage
Propagate Texas sage by seeds or cutting . Collect the bantam seedsbefore the seed capsule dries completely and splits open , andstore the seedsin a coolheaded and juiceless place , such as the icebox . Seeds can be started immediately in the nursery or forthwith in the garden any metre after the season’slast leap frost . Scratch seeds lightly into the grime and water regularly until germination occurs . Then , reduce watering , allowing the soil to dry out out between waterings .
Texas salvia can also bepropagated by softwood and semi - hardwood cuttingstaken from the current yr ’s increase . Cut 4 to 6 inch from the tip of a stem . take away the foliage from the bottom half of thestem carving . Dip the destruction in root powder and place it in a tummy with well - draining potting soil in a bright place with collateral luminousness . body of water the potting mix lightly and spritz the plant regularly with water . Do n’t let the soil dry completely , but avoid keep it fully saturated . get across the pot with open charge card or spritz the works several times throughout the solar day until ascendant growth begins . Rooting can take a few weeks to several calendar month .
Types of Texas Sage
‘White Cloud’
Leucophyllum frutescens‘White Cloud ’ is a insidious greyish - will selection with white bloom instead of the traditional pinkish or majestic efflorescence . It grows 6 - 8 feet marvellous and wide , and the growth is often less dense than other extract .
‘Silverado’
Leucophyllum frutescens‘Silverado ’ has bright silver leaf and more obtuse emergence than other variety . The blooms are violet with red overtones , attracting bees , hummingbird , and butterflies . At maturity , it reaches 4 - 6 feet tall and wide .
‘Green Cloud’
Leucophyllum frutescens‘Green Cloud ’ has green foliage instead of the common silvery - grey leave of absence on most Texas salvia shrub . It is a more prolific bungle than most variety and is more large-minded of ill drain soils . ' Green Cloud ' grows to 6 feet grandiloquent and wide .
‘Compacta’
Leucophyllum frutescens‘Compacta ’ Texas sage is a small-scale selection , typically progress to 3 metrical unit tall and wide when full grown , although it has been describe to grow as large as 5 human foot tall and wide occasionally .
Texas Sage Companion Plants
Agave
Agave plant are architectural admiration that flourish in dry grease and full sun and come in various colors , including grim , unripe , yellowish green , and atomic number 79 . Their size of it varies from 1 human foot tall and wide to 3 invertebrate foot magniloquent and 8 foot all-inclusive . Like Texas salvia , agaves resent excess moisture . Set it and blank out it .
Prickly Pear Cactus
Prickly pear cactus , with its large muted - green stamp pad , leave a unique foil to the delicate leaves of Texas salvia . The large efflorescence and attractive red fruits provide extra pastime throughout the time of year . The works ’s size varies wide from 1 to 20 feet tall .
Yucca
Althoughyuccaplants are usually spring up for their attractive evergreen plant strappy farewell that pasture in color from silver - blue to amber and green , do n’t forget the telling flower stalks that can tower 10 feet or higher , terminating in a mass of large white flowers . Locate yucca far enough away from Texas sage to let the flower husk to shine .
Frequently Asked Questions
cervid do not typically browse on Texas salvia . However , hungry deer will run through just about anything when their common nutrient reservoir are missing .
Texas salvia attracts a form of pollinator , include the Theona Checkerspot butterfly stroke . These aboriginal butterflies lay their testicle on the leaves that serve as a food seed for the youthful caterpillars . They do n’t defoliate the flora or induce severe harm .
Credit: Bob Stefko
