Leucophyllum frutescens (Texas Sage)

Native to Mexico Gulf, northeastern Mexico, northwestern Mexico, southwestern Mexico, and Texas, this is a shrub in the Scrophulariaceae family. Originates from the Chihuahuan Desert. The plant’s resilience is mirrored in its adaptability to various soils, particularly alkaline, gritty, and well-drained types, while its full sun requirement underscores its desert heritage​. Standing 5-8 feet tall with a spread of 4-6 feet, this evergreen shrub’s silvery or gray-green foliage forms a striking contrast with its rose-purple, bell-shaped flowers. Its blooming is notably triggered by high humidity, especially following rains. The official “State Native Shrub of Texas” is an ornamental shrub globally that can tolerate a freeze. Photographed in Barranquilla, Colombia.