# Creosote Bush (*Larrea tridentata*) The Creosote Bush is a hardy plant that can survive in very dry places. It has small, shiny leaves and can grow tall, making it special in the desert landscape. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 38 - **Habitat:** Desert ![Creosote Bush](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Larrea_tridentata_Furnace_Creek.jpg&width=800) Photo: Eric in SF, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Larrea_tridentata_Furnace_Creek.jpg) ## Appearance The Creosote Bush is a woody shrub with many slender stems and small, waxy, green leaves. It produces tiny, five-petaled yellow flowers and fuzzy, white, spherical seed capsules that make it stand out against the desert landscape. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Zygophyllales - **Family:** Zygophyllaceae - **Genus:** Larrea ## Interesting facts - Its leaves release a unique, tar-like smell, especially strong and pungent after desert rain. - One creosote bush colony in California is over 11,000 years old, making it one of Earth's most ancient living things! - The sticky seeds are often carried away by desert ants, who store them in their underground nests. - This tough plant grows so well, it’s often the only large shrub for miles in harsh desert environments. ## Special abilities - **Secret Space Maker:** The Creosote Bush can release special chemicals into the soil that prevent other plants from growing too close to it. - **Deep Water Diver:** Its roots can grow incredibly deep into the ground, helping the bush find precious water far beneath the desert surface. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-300 cm - **Spread:** 100-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Year-round - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** [Black-tailed Jackrabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-tailed-jackrabbit) (*Lepus californicus*) — browses on its leaves - **Shelter:** [Desert Iguana](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-iguana) (*Dipsosaurus dorsalis*) — rests in its shade - **Depends on:** Merriam's Kangaroo Rat (*Dipodomys merriami*) — collects its seeds for food ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Don't touch the plant too much, as its leaves can be sticky. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Creosote Bush? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Creosote Bush? 100-300 cm ### How wide does Creosote Bush spread? 100-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on Creosote Bush? 1-2 cm ### When does Creosote Bush bloom? Year-round ### Is Creosote Bush edible? No ### Is Creosote Bush toxic? Mild ### What is Creosote Bush's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Boyce Thompson Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boyce-thompson-arboretum) — Arizona, US · Botanical Garden - [Mariscal Mine](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mariscal-mine) — Texas, US · Historic Site - [Rainbow Basin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rainbow-basin) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/red-rock-canyon-national-conservation-area) — Nevada, US · Nature Reserve - [Rodman Mountains](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rodman-mountains) — California, US · Natural Landmark - [Sabino Canyon](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sabino-canyon) — Arizona, US · Natural Landmark [View all places to see Creosote Bush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/creosote-bush) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Creosote Bush: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/creosote-bush)