Species Texas barometer bush
Pink flower with white hair, white stigma, orange anthers, white filaments, green buds, leaves, stems

Texas barometer bush

Leucophyllum frutescens

Texas barometer bush, or Leucophyllum frutescens, is a drought-tolerant low bush native to the Southwest United States and Mexico. Its foliage is a light bluish-grey color and has a pleasant smell when crushed due to the volatile oils in the foliage. The bush grows up to five feet in height and produces pink or lavender flowers in summer. Its blooms can last into fall, and it is an attractive option for xeriscaping. This perennial blooms reliably with little maintenance, and is happy in full sun or part shade. Texas Barometer Bush is tough and tolerant of heat, drought, and rocky soils.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Minimum

Propagation:

Cutting,Layering Propagation,Grafting Propagation,Division,Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

8 - 10

Flowers:

Purple Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,gray,gray

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Thorny:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Texas barometer bushes should be watered deeply once a week during the summer months. During periods of extreme heat, the soil should be monitored closely and the bush may need to be watered more often. In the winter, the bush should normally receive only light, supplemental watering as needed. Take care not to overwater, as the Texas barometer bush is a drought tolerant species. The best practice for watering Texas barometer bush is to water deeply and infrequently.

sunlight

Texas barometer bush is a plant species that thrives in full sun to partial shade exposure. It needs 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day during its peak growing season in order to remain healthy. During the cooler months, especially during winter, this plant can tolerate 4-6 hours per day of direct sunlight. When temperatures soar during the hot, summer months, it's best to provide afternoon shade. Planting this shrub in a well-ventilated site, which provides a degree of shade, is beneficial and will help to protect it from intense heat.

pruning

Texas barometer bush (Leucophyllum frutescens) should be pruned lightly every 2-3 years to maintain an attractive shape. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring, before the plant begins to leaf out. Light pruning consists of removing dead branches and those that appear too leggy or intertwining. The plant should not be pruned more than 1-third of its overall height. If necessary, more drastic pruning can be done late in the dormant season to reduce the size of the Texas barometer bush.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Leucophyllum frutescens typically begins flowering in late spring, usually in April or May.

Hardiness Map