Shrub · Deer-resistant
Texas Sage
Leucophyllum frutescens
Also called: Cenizo, Barometer Bush, Purple Sage
A silver-leaved desert shrub that bursts into purple bloom after rain — earning its nickname 'barometer bush.' Thrives on neglect in the hottest, driest corners of a Texas yard.
Growing & care
Plant in fast-draining soil and full sun. Never overwater — root rot is the only thing that kills it. Prune lightly in late winter; avoid shearing into tight balls.
Bloom season
In bloom: Jun–Oct · Colors: purple, pink
Where to buy
Look for texas sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) at: Native Texas nurseries, Prairie Moon Nursery, local independent garden centers.
Sources
Range, nomenclature, and the USDA symbol above come from the federal plant record for this species. Check it yourself:
Leucophyllum frutescens (LEFR3) in the USDA PLANTS Database →
Good for
Plant it with
Natives that pair with texas sage
Same conditions, same uses — species that share texas sage's growing requirements and belong in the same bed.
Agarita
Berberis trifoliolata
A spiny blue-grey evergreen that bees swarm in late winter and birds nest inside for protection.
Autumn Sage
Salvia greggii
The workhorse of the water-wise Texas garden: a small evergreen shrub that blooms nearly year-round and shrugs off heat, drought, and deer..
Damianita
Chrysactinia mexicana
A low evergreen cushion of fine, aromatic foliage smothered in golden daisies in spring and again in fall.
Evergreen Sumac
Rhus virens
A lush, glossy evergreen that looks far too refined for how tough it is — a superb native screen or hedge that bees work in late summer and birds fruit on in fall..
Texas Kidneywood
Eysenhardtia texana
An airy shrub that throws spikes of vanilla-scented white flowers after every rain, drawing clouds of bees and butterflies.
Flame Acanthus
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
A wispy, tough shrub that throws tubular orange-red flowers through the worst of the summer heat — exactly when hummingbirds are fueling up for migration..