Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Saturday - November 14, 2009

From: Bulverde, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Plant spacing of Cenizo in Bulverde TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

How far apart should Texas sage be planted?

ANSWER:

There are two plants in our Native Plant Database that have "Texas sage" as one of their common names: Leucophyllum frutescens (Texas barometer bush), often referred to a Cenizo, and  Salvia texana. (Texas sage). We are assuming, since you speak of distance between plants, that you are probably referring to the shrub Cenizo. If you are planting this shrub, native to Texas and to the area of Comal County, as a privacy screen, we would recommend 5 to 7 feet from center to center when planting it. It is normally a compact shrub of from 2 to 5 ft. tall, with a similar spread, so this distance would give it distance to grow but permit the branches to meet to close the screen.

From our Native Plant Image Gallery: 


Leucophyllum frutescens

Leucophyllum frutescens

 

 

More Trees Questions

How fast do trees grow?
September 03, 2008 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants I would like to know how to tell how much a tree will grow if the average of the trees are growing at the rate of approximately 3 to 3.5% annually. And how do they come up wi...
view the full question and answer

Transplant rootbound tree now from Kerrville TX
June 10, 2012 - I purchased a Blanco Crabapple tree. Should I plant it now or wait until Fall? (It is currently rootbound.) Second question: Our Mountain Laurel has a dead trunk and one trunk has already died. I c...
view the full question and answer

Fruit trees for South Austin.
January 25, 2008 - I live in South, South Austin, just a pinch West of 35 near 1626. I would like to plant some fruit trees in the back yard. Anyone will sell fruit trees, but they don't always grow. What fruiting var...
view the full question and answer

Non-native Chamaecyparis pisiflora turning brown in Fuqua-Varina NC
December 10, 2012 - I have a "Soft Serve False Cypress" Chamaecyparis pisifera'Dow Whiting PPAF, that has only been in the ground for 6-7 months. I just noticed that the branches and leaves are starting to die, turni...
view the full question and answer

Difference in acorn yields from Georgetown TX
December 27, 2012 - Why do some live oaks produce acorns in abundance and others do not?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.