The cenizo (Leucophyllum frutescens) is an evergreen shrub native to Texas and Northern Mexico.
Also known as Texas sage or purple sage, it is sometimes also called the rain sage, because it can bloom at any time of the year after adequate rainfall.
The cenizo is not a true sage; it belongs instead to the figwort family. It loves soils high in calcium carbonate, requires minimal watering, can be easily shaped into ornamental shrubs and is an important host to several species of moth and butterfly.
The pale, silvery-green leaves and bell-shaped flowers are a hallmark of west Texas. A plant of many names, it is sometimes referred to as a barometer bush because an increase in humidity and soil moisture can trigger a bloom.
The flowers are most often purple but can also be light pink and occasionally white.
