Cenizo, Texas Ranger, purple sage
Leucophyllum frutescens, Scrophulariaceae, Figwort Family
Description: Much-branched shrub with dense, ashy-gray
foliage and purple flowers after showers
Height: To 12 ft, usually 5 to 8 ft.
Flowers: Showy, solitary, axillary, pale-violet to purple, white
and pink cultivars; appear quickly after rainfall throughout year
Fruit: Dry, 2-valved capsules
Foliage: Evergreen, simple, alternate or clustered, ashy-gray,
elliptic, untoothed leaves
Spines: Unarmed
Bark: Grayish-black to aging black and roughened with small
scales
Growth Rate: Fast Requirements:
Sun: Prefers full sun, green forms do occur rarely in shade
Soil: Caliche, sandy, gravelly, arid
Drainage: Well
Water: Low, drought tolerant, green forms are more water tolerant
Maintenance: Cotton root rot problem, do not fertilize, shade
causes cultivars to grow leggy
Propagation: Seeds, cuttings
Native Habitat: Chaparrals, caliche and gravel
ridges
Wildlife Use: Leaves - caterpillars of Theona
Checkerspot
Comments: Green forms, naturally found in Cameron Co.,
will withstand irrigation and maintain foliage from ground level
up
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