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

Tuesday - May 15, 2012

From: Lago Vista, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Propagation, Shrubs
Title: Making cuttings from purple sage in Austin, TX.
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

I would like to plant additional purple sage for landscaping. May I do this with cuttings from an existing adult plant? If so, how and when would be the best method? I live in Lago Vista, TX

ANSWER:

Our Native Plant Database contains five species of plants that have the name purple sage, but that only one that grows in Texas is Leucophyllum frutescens (Cenizo).

Its NPIN Profile page lists Propagation Material: Seeds , Semi-hardwood Cuttings of the current seasons growth.
 Mr. Smarty Plants will give you links to three resources that will explain what that means. They all tell you pretty much the same thing, but the clarity of explanation and illustrations vary from one to the other.

North Carolina State University

Washington State University Cooperative Extension

Virginia Cooperative Extension

 

From the Image Gallery


Cenizo
Leucophyllum frutescens

More Shrubs Questions

Fall flowering purple shrub for Bloomfield Hills MI
October 28, 2009 - Need a fall flowering shrub for my temperature zone, preferably purple.
view the full question and answer

Annabelle hydrangeas blossoms drooping to ground in Wilmette, IL
April 10, 2011 - I have a row of Annabelle Hydrangeas that become very heavy and droop over the entire width of the bed. I would like to know what I can use for support so that they will stand up and allow me to plan...
view the full question and answer

Identification of spiky red berry in Connecticut
September 25, 2011 - I found an odd berry outside of my school, none of the science teachers know what it is though. It kind of looks like a spiked cherry. It has spikes on the outside, a pit on the insde, and has pinkish...
view the full question and answer

Non-native Indian Hawthorn not flowering in Fairfield, TX
March 17, 2012 - My indian hawthorn shrubs won't flower, they are the white variety and I live in Freestone County, Texas, greenery is beautiful and very healthy plants but no flowers Have had the plants for over tw...
view the full question and answer

Growing Buttonbush in California
May 24, 2015 - For the Buttonbush, how do you keep it consistently moist?
view the full question and answer

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