Texas Sage or ‘Lowrey’s Legacy’
Leucophyllum langmaniae ‘Lowrey’s Legacy’
Characteristics
- Type: Woody Shrub
- Zone: 8 – 10
- Sun: Full sun
- Height: 4 – 5 Feet
- Width: 4 – 5 Feet
- Bloom: Lavender
- Water: Dry – Medium
- Soil: Well-Drained
- Drought Tolerant
- Deer Resistant
- Attracts: Hummingbirds
- Texas Native
- Texas Superstar®
Culture
‘Lowrey’s Legacy’ was selected as a Texas Superstar® plant for its profuse and frequent flower displays. It is known for its soft, silvery-green foliage. When Lowrey’s Legacy blooms you literally can’t see the plant because the flowers cover all of it. It needs to be fertilized once or twice a year for blooms and growth to continue. Lowrey’s Legacy Cenizo’s azalea-like lilac blue flowers are some of the largest and most attractive blooms of any Texas sage on the market. The Texas Sage or ‘Lowrey’s Legacy’ plant does not develop that ‘leggy’ appearance many Texas cenizo sages develop over-time. This plant will not only save time and water, but also will provide a spectacular show of lilac blue flowers periodically throughout the year.
Noteworthy Characteristics
‘Lowrey’s Legacy’ is often confused with Lynn’s Legacy. They are both designated a Texas Superstar® Plant, but there are some distinct differences between them:
Lowery’s Legacy (Leucophyllum langmaniae ‘Lowery’s Legacy’)
- Foliage: Known for its soft, silvery green foliage.
- Flowers: Produces a profusion of lavender-purple flowers, often in response to humidity or rain.
- Growth Habit: Compact and dense, growing 4–5 feet tall and wide.
- Drought Tolerance: Exceptionally drought-tolerant and low maintenance
Lynn’s Legacy (Leucophyllum langmaniae ‘Lynn’s Legacy’)
- Foliage: Slightly more refined foliage compared to other sages, with a bright silvery-green appearance.
- Flowers: Heavy bloomer with pale lavender to violet flowers, producing blooms more consistently regardless of rain.
- Growth Habit: Upright, dense growth, typically reaching 5–6 feet tall and wide.
- Drought Tolerance: Highly drought-tolerant with reliable flowering patterns.
Often called Texas Sage or Cenizo, both plant cultivars were named after Lynn Lowrey who rescued it from a roadside near Monterrey, Mexico.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Cotton root rot in soil that is not well drained.
Garden Uses
Texas Sage or ‘Lowrey’s Legacy’ is a general-purpose shrub where a touch of silvery foliage is desired; other uses include as a foundation shrub, in island plantings, xeriscapes or in mixed borders; with appropriate substrate, it can be used in containers on sunny patios.