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Products > Leucophyllum frutescens 'Los Alamitos'
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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Scrophulariaceae (Figworts) |
| Origin: Southwest (U.S.) (North America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Pink |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Height: 6-8 feet |
| Width: 6-8 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Seaside: Yes |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 0-10° F |
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Leucophyllum frutescens 'Los Alamitos' (Texas Sage) - An large upright dense semi-evergreen shrub to 6 to 8 feet tall by as wide with half to one inch long gray-green felty leaves and pale rose-pink flowers, that are funnel shaped with 5 petals in 2 lips. In full bloom in summer and fall, the flowers can smoother the plant with color. Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate infrequently or not at all once established - an extremely drought and heat tolerant plant, though flowers heavier after some irrigation in summer. It is tolerant, and in fact prefers alkaline soils and hardy to about 5 degrees F so useful down to USDA zone 8 but does not like poorly drained wet soils or shade. Is often sheared and tolerates this treatment well but certainly looks better when only lightly pruned in late winter or early spring to maintain shape or even opened up to expose its branching structure and gray barked stems - later pruning can be done but risks removal of developing flower buds. Though evergreen, foliage is more sparse in winter with new leaves emerging in spring. Texas Sage is native from Northern Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas) north into Texas through the Rio Grande Plains and Trans-Pecos area into New Mexico where it grows on rocky slopes. It is considered to be one of Texas's most outstanding native plants where it has been declared the official state native shrub and is sometimes called "barometer bush" because flowering is triggered by higher humidity or rain. Other common names include Texas Ranger, Texas Rain Sage, Cenizo, Texas Silverleaf, Ash-bush, Wild Lilac, Purple Sage, Senisa, Cenicilla, Palo Cenizo and Hierba del Cenizo.
The information on this page is based on the research that we have conducted about this plant in the San Marcos Growers library, from what we have found on reliable online sources, as well as from observations made of our crops of this plant growing in the nursery and of plants growing in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens where we may have observed it. We also have incorporated comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from those who may have additional information, particularly if this information includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Leucophyllum frutescens 'Los Alamitos'. |
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