UCONN UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Plant Biodiversity Conservatory and Research Core

  • Collections
  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Outreach
  • Visiting
  • Staff
  • IPM Info
  • Support the Greenhouse

Accession Data:

Leucophyllum frutescens (Berland.) I. M. Johnst.

  • Common Name: Purple Sage
  • Family: Scrophulariaceae Juss.

  • Country of Origin: Texas, USA into northern Mexico
  • Habitat: rocky caliche slopes and stony, calcareous soils

  • Description: A gray shrub with leaves densely covered with stellate, silvery hairs and bright pink-lavender, bilaterally symmetrical flowers borne singly in crowded leaf axils. Typically a compact shrub, 2-5 ft. tall, Texas barometer-bush or cenizo occasionally reaches 8 ft. in height, and 4-6 ft. in width. Leaves silvery gray to greenish, soft to the touch, up to 1 1/4 inches long but mostly 1 inch or less, tapering more gradually to the base than to the rounded tip, margins smooth. Flowers violet to purple, sometimes pink, nearly bell shaped, and up to 1 inch in length and width, appearing intermittently from spring to fall. Fruit a small capsule.3

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 198501464
  • Source: Unknown
  • Accession Date: 12-31-1985
  • Bench: 2211 - XER:Chihuahuan-Tehuacan Deserts
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 1 confirmed on 04-28-2025

Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Magnoliopsida
  • SubClass: euasterid I
  • Order: Lamiales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Scrophulariaceae
  • SubFamily:
  • Tribe: Leucophylleae
  • SubTribe:

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005

References (internal):

  • EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: Texas / Mexico Northeast

References (external):

  1. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Last accessed on Tuesday, November 07, 2017.
  2. Leucophyllum frutescens at ARS-GRIN. Last accessed on Tuesday, November 07, 2017.
  3. Leucophyllum frutescens at LB Johnson Wildflower Center. Last accessed on Tuesday, November 07, 2017.

data regenerated on Mon, 28 Apr 2025 10:42:01 -0400 [bcm v4.0]

Images:

Leucophyllum frutescens

Additional images for this accession:

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Current Accessions in the Scrophulariaceae

Subfamily
Tribe Buddlejeae

  • Buddleja crispa
  • Buddleja indica

Subfamily
Tribe Hemimerideae

  • Diascia integerrima

Subfamily
Tribe Leucophylleae

  • Leucophyllum frutescens

Subfamily
Tribe Limoselleae

  • Hebenstretia dura

Subfamily
Tribe Myoporeae

  • Eremophila debilis

Subfamily
Tribe Teedieae

  • Dermatobotrys saundersii
W/C = Wild Collected
= indicates flowering in past 14 days
= images available for this accession
= map available for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days
  • © University of Connecticut
  • Disclaimers, Privacy & Copyright