Creosote
Creosote bush in bloom in the Sonoran Desert..
Shrub
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
- Height
- 3-10 feet
- Bloom Season
- Spring and after summer monsoons
- Habitat
- Desert flats, bajadas, open scrub
About this plant
Creosote (pronounced kree-uh-soht) bush is one of the most common and resilient shrubs in the Sonoran Desert. It's known for its distinctive 'desert rain' smell after storms and for surviving extreme heat and drought. This evergreen shrub features small, waxy leaves; yellow five-petaled flowers; and fuzzy white seed heads later in the season, often forming wide, rounded mounds. It thrives in desert flats, bajadas, and open scrub across the Sonoran Desert, preferring full sun and well-drained soils. Often blooms after rainfall, commonly in spring and sometimes again after summer monsoons. Creosote has a long history of traditional use, especially as an herbal preparation. It can be irritating or unsafe if misused, so this site treats it as an educational reference rather than a guide for ingestion. A keystone desert plant that provides cover and micro-habitat for insects and small wildlife.
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Quick ID Checklist
- Evergreen desert shrub with small, resinous, glossy leaves that often smell strongly after rain
- Leaves are paired, with two small leaflets joined at the base, giving a distinctive "split leaf" look up close
- Small yellow flowers with five petals appear after moisture, most commonly in spring, with additional bloom possible later
- Fruit forms as fuzzy, white, ball-like seed pods
- Usually forms rounded, open shrubs across flats, bajadas, and washes, often in large stands
Seasonal Notes
Creosote bush can flower in spring and may also flower again in summer or fall when moisture is available. After rain, the leaves often deepen in color and release a strong desert "smell of rain" scent known as petrichor. In very dry periods, the plant conserves water by slowing growth and may look more sparse until the next rainfall cycle.
Uses
Creosote leaves are coated in antimicrobial, antifungal, and insect-repellent compounds that repel insects, inhibit microbes, and suppress competing plants. They are extremely drought tolerant, thrive in full sun and well-drained soils, and are commonly used in native desert landscaping for low-water structure and habitat. It's a dominant shrub in many desert ecosystems and is important for stabilizing soils and supporting desert plant communities.
Ethics + Disclaimers
This site is for education only and is not medical advice. Creosote bush is sometimes sold as "chaparral" in herbal products, and oral use has been associated with serious liver injury in case reports. Do not self-treat with chaparral or creosote preparations. Do not harvest from protected areas, and do not remove wild plants. If you want this species at home, use nursery-grown plants. Always follow local regulations and practice low-impact observation.
Wildlife Value
Creosote bush flowers provide nectar and pollen for many desert pollinators, including native bees. The shrub also provides cover and shade used by small animals and birds, especially in hot conditions. Its presence can support broader desert biodiversity by acting as a long-lived, stable structure in the landscape.
Interesting Facts
- The scent many people associate with desert rain is strongly linked to creosote's resinous leaves after rainfall.
- Creosote is one of the most widespread and dominant shrubs across the Sonoran, Mojave, and Chihuahuan Deserts.
- Some creosote plants alive today were already growing when humans were still hunter-gatherers.
- A creosote bush can stop growing entirely for years, then resume like nothing happened.
- Creosote can live longer than civilizations, cities, and written language.