Texas sage: planting and care guide
Texas sage (Leucophyllum frutescens), also called cenizo, is a native evergreen shrub with gray foliage and purple blooms, often after rain.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Very low once established
- Soil
- Fast-draining, including rocky and alkaline soil
Why it fits Central Texas
Texas sage handles heat, drought and alkaline limestone soil. Too much water or shade usually does more harm than too little, making it a strong choice for low-water landscapes.
Preparing the bed for Texas sage
Central Texas ground is often heavy clay or thin soil over limestone. Avoid rich, heavily amended beds. Plant in native soil or add a little topsoil where the ground is very thin, and finish with gravel or decomposed granite instead of heavy mulch. Top the finished bed with 2–3 inches of mulch, kept a few inches off the stems, to hold moisture through summer.
Materials we deliver for this project
We don't sell plants. Get the bulk materials delivered by the ton across Austin and Central Texas.