Southwest Plant of the Month – Big Bend silverleaf – Leucophyllum candidum

Jun 27, 2021 | Plant of the Month

General Information

Plant Form

Shrub

Plant Size

4′ x 4′

Plant Type

Evergreen

Water Usage

Low

Sunlight

Sun

Colors

Blue, Purple


Physical Description: 
Densely foliaged, compact, rounded shrub with soft velvety, silver-gray leaves and stems, and intense deep blue-violet flowers following heavy rains from late spring to fall. Very drought tolerant.

Care and Maintenance:  Overwatering and/or poor drainage will quickly kill this plant.

Gardener’s Notes:  Naturally tidy and compact in full sun. Chihuahuan desert native with several cultivars released by Texas A&M including “Silver Cloud” and “Thunder Cloud”. Similar El Paso area native, L. minus, is seldom commercially available but a hybrid with L. frutescens, “Rain Cloud” can be found commercially.

Plant information from Southwest Yard & Garden Plant Advisor.