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Creosote Bush

Larrea tridentata

Other common name(s):

Greasewood, Hediondilla, Governadora, Guamis

Family:

Zygophyllaceae (Creosote Bush Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Chihuahuan Deserts, High Plains, Southern Texas Plains
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Arid Llano Estacado, Shinnery Sands
Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Shrub

Height

3
to
6
ft.

Spread

3
to
4
ft.

Leaf Retention

Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Caliche, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Fruit, Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Nectar Insects, Bees

Maintenance

The shrub can be sheared like boxwood, pick-pruned to a small, graceful shrub, or pruned to make a small. Although has a very deep tap root, it can be transplanted. The belief that nothing will grow under creosote bush because of toxins it gives off has been said not to be true as flowers and grasses have been grown at the base of creosote. Propagation: Seed,

Comments

Blooms January-December. Drought-tolerant creosote bush is the dominant shrub in desert areas, covering thousands of square miles. Leaves are sticky with a creosote resin which produces a refreshing scent after rains. The small, compound leaves are composed of 2 leaflets. Produces small, yellow, velvety flowers, followed by fluffy, white fruit. Colonies of plants are actually clones. The foliage hides species of grasshoppers, praying mantids, and crickets that occur only on this plant. Leafy galls caused by a fly, the Creosote Gall Midge (Asphondylia spp.) are often numerous.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Wasowski, Sally and Wasowski, Andy, Native Texas Plants, Landscaping Region by Region, 1988, 1991, pg 248. 3) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=24181&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 4) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LATR2. 5) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Larrea+tridentata&formsubmit=Search+Terms, 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=29051#null

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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