Shrubs

Sweet herbal scented leaves & purple blooms. Small, rounded evergreen herbaceous to woody perennial shrubs typically grow 2 ft. x 2 ft. They must have well-drained soils and some moderate summer irrigation, but limited moisture during winter like most Mediterranean plants. Ferny, dissected short gray pubescent leaves have a sweet herbal fragrance, especially when crushed to release their oils. Likewise, the flowers that rise well above the foliage looking like lavender flags, are also sweetly fragranced. The stems are square. Deadheading spent flower stems is the only regular required maintenance. Avoid planting too deep as they are susceptible to crown rot and chelated iron or complete fertilizers with micronutrients can help prevent chlorosis symptoms. Use in containers on patios or poolside, for entryways where their fragrance can be appreciated, mixed in perennial beds or kitchen herb gardens.

Silver-white foliage with amethyst purple blooms. All Leucophyllum sp. are lumped together as Texas Sage, although each variety has different appearance and growth habits. ‘Silver Cloud’ is a 40-year-old selection with small round highly pubescent white to gray foliage and stems. Dark purple blooms form in response to an increase in relative humidity during late spring and summer. Little to no maintenance is needed if the proper sized cultivar is chosen for the allowable space. Heavily pubescent plants are an evolutionary clue to gardeners that those plants have a natural adaptation to heat and drought. They require well-drained soil, and resent over-watering, especially during cool weather months.

Soft gray leaves with light purple blooms. This selection of Texas Sage is unique for its dense compact growth habit that requires little to no pruning. When conditions are optimal, masses of light lavender-colored flowers appear during summer monsoon season. They are durable, moderately-fast growing full shrubs. While this selection accepts shearing, it is not advisable. Their size and dense growth do lend them to be utilized for a low water, evergreen hedge. They are most commonly used as foundational shrubs for virtually all residential and commercial landscapes.

Soft green leaves with purple blooms. This selection of Texas Sage is unique for its darker green leaves. When conditions are optimal, masses of purple to wine-colored flowers appear during summer monsoon season. They are large, fast growing upright shrubs. While this selection accepts shearing, doing so will limit its blooming potential. Their size and dense growth do lend them to be utilized for a low water, evergreen screen or privacy hedge. They are most commonly used as foundational shrubs for virtually all residential and commercial landscapes

Small, wavy green leaves with big purple blooms. This selection of Texas Sage is unique for its smaller darker green wavy leaves. When conditions are optimal, masses of big, bright purple colored flowers appear during summer monsoon season. These are large, fast growing upright shrubs. While this selection accepts shearing, doing so can limit its blooming potential. Their size and dense growth do lend them to be utilized as a low water, evergreen screen, or privacy hedge. They are most commonly used as foundational shrubs in residential and commercial landscapes.

Small dark olive-green leaves with purple blooms. This selection is a compact growing, darker green L. langmaniae. It grows at a slow to moderate rate to a size of about 4 ft. high and wide with a round or domed habit. The flowers are large and lavender in color, which stand out well against the dark olive green foliage. Low maintenance and low water use in well-drained soils. They can be kept smaller by shearing because the flower display is not as significant with this selection.

Olive green leaves with masses of big lavender blooms! This is one of the most floriferous selections of Texas Sage ever made by famed Texas plantsman Mr. Lynn Lowery. These are green, not gray, shrubs that grow moderately fast and sturdily to a manageable size of 4 to 5 ft. They are adaptable, tolerant of low desert heat and high humidity. With regular supplemental summer irrigation in Phoenix or Palm Springs, these shrubs will be healthy and long-lived. Their real show starts during summer when rising relative humidity forces copious amounts of big, bright lavender blooms that completely cover the stems turning the entire plant into a purple mass. Avoid shearing these plants. Give them room and time to grow to full maturity.

Fuzzy gray-green cupped leaves with dark purple blooms. When this selection was originally touted by other valley nurseries, it was mistakenly described as a small, compact growing Leucophyllum. As it got used and specified in projects, it became clear that this plant had no interest in staying cute and compact in urban landscapes with regular supplemental irrigation. The largest one we’ve ever seen was about 6 ft. tall and had spread about 10 ft. across. They will stay compact and grow at an average rate to a modest 4-5 ft. with infrequent, but deep summer watering. Its flowers are dark purple, which stand out well against the gray-green foliage. They can be kept smaller by shearing where needed, but that should be done after flowering in late summer. Like other gray leafed Texas Sage, they must have well-draining soils.

Small tough shrubs with fragrant leaves and flowers. This is a dwarf selection of evergreen hardy myrtle. They do grow in a compact form, with small dark green, aromatic leaves. Cream to white flowers with long stamens appear in spring, followed by small dark berries. These plants take well to shearing or pruning but do so after flowering has finished. Ideal for low formal evergreen borders or short hedges, they also do well in containers and are considered clean enough for pool plantings. They have a lush, Mediterranean look.