Plant · GBIF taxon 7568403
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentataAlso known as Greasewood, Chaparral, Hediondilla, Gobernadora
Creosote bushes dominate vast expanses of North American deserts, easily recognized by resinous foliage and a distinctive scent released after rain. Individual plants clone themselves outward in expanding rings that can persist for over 10,000 years, ranking among the oldest living organisms on Earth. Small yellow blossoms cover the branches after seasonal storms, producing fuzzy white seed capsules scattered by desert winds.
DesertEvergreenFragrant
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
- Desert Grasshopper
- Creosote Katydid
- Black-Tailed Jackrabbit
ThreatsUrban expansion, solar farm development, invasive desert grasses
HabitatsDesert scrub, alluvial fans, arid plains
Life span1,000 to 11,000+ years (clonal rings)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyZygophyllaceae
- SpeciesLarrea tridentata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains hepatotoxic compounds; do not ingest or brew into herbal preparations.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains volatile resinous compounds including nordihydroguaiaretic acid, which causes severe liver and kidney toxicity if consumed.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for resinous olive-green leaves divided into two fused leaflets and bright yellow five-petaled flowers.
- What to do
- Do not collect or brew leaf material for herbal teas or remedies; observe safely without harvesting.
Responsible observation
- Rain Scent: Inhale the earthy petrichor aroma given off by leaf resins after desert rainstorms.
- Clonal Rings: Look for circular growth patterns formed by ancient expanding root systems.
- Observe Wildlife: Scan foliage closely for camouflaged specialist insects like the creosote katydid.
Specialist Herbivore 
Frequent Companion (c) Bob Miller, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Frequent Companion WClarke / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Habitat Partner (c) Pacific Southwest Region USFWS, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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