This is one part in a weekly series featuring the UC Davis Arboretum’s “40 Plants You (Probably) Have Never Heard of – But Will Love,” 40 can’t-fail, easy-care, low-water plants well adapted to our region but hard to find.
Green leaf cenizo
Leucophyllum frutescens
Size: 8 to 10 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide
Bloom season: Lavender pink flowers in summer
Exposure: Full sun
Pruning needs: Prune to shape as desired; can be hedged
Water needs: Low water; once established, deep-water about once a month
Snapshot: Also known as Texas ranger or Texas sage, this Southwest native shrub can be hard to find (at least in California) but deserves more use in low-water landscapes. In the hottest summer months, its silvery gray foliage becomes covered by lavender-pink blooms – delighting bees and beneficial insects as well as people. A medium-large evergreen plant, cenizo needs reasonably good soil drainage and will tolerate hot exposures (such as next to driveways or walls) with full and reflected sun in summer. This shrub also is a good candidate for creating a low-water hedge or screen. In addition to the soft lavender-pink variety, white and darker pink flower colors are available as well as a compact form.
For more on “40 Plants,” click on arboretum.ucdavis.edu.
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