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

General Information

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.