Creosote is the most abundant plant in the three deserts of the US southwest. It’s rarely grown as a landscape plant, perhaps because it’s so “common”, but this shrub can make a welcome addition to the hottest, sunniest spot in your garden. Here’s everything you need to know about growing this underutilized but extraordinary southwest desert native.
Creosote (Larrea tridentata) is the dominant shrub of the Sonoran, Mohave, and Chihuahuan Deserts. It’s so common that you may question whether it’s worth growing as a landscape plant.
While this plant is common, it’s certainly not ordinary. It’s not only one of the most important desert plants, it’s one of the longest-lived plants on the planet!
Here are some of the reasons this shrub makes a good landscape plant.
In the desert southwest, creosote is synonymous with the “smell of rain.” Some gardeners plant it to assure they can always enjoy this phenomenon. The desert’s distinctive aroma after a rain is largely due to the resinous leaves of creosote. And while not known for being a beauty, when their glossy leaves green up and their yellow flowers bloom after a summer rain, these plants are really quite lovely.
Others plant creosote because it’s a tough, nearly maintenance-free plant that’s at home in the hottest, sunniest, driest spots of their yard where little else is happy. In its native environment, creosote can survive on as little as 2″ of annual rainfall and can live 3 to 5 years without water. (Of course, I don’t recommend treating yours this way!)
And one of the best reasons to grow creosote is that it’s a stellar plant for supporting wildlife. Birds, lizards, tortoises, and mammals from foxes to jackrabbits use the plant for food and shelter. Over 60 insects use this plant, including 22 species of bees that only feed on creosote flowers.
Why I Like This Plant
- Dainty yellow flowers much of the year
- Glossy evergreen leaves
- The “smell of desert rain”
- Extremely low maintenance
- No thorns, low litter
- Important wildlife plant
Things to Watch Out For
Ironically, creosote is one of the desert’s toughest plants, yet it can be hard to establish. (You’ll find advice on how to successfully transplant below.)
Finding their water “sweet spot” can be tricky. They need some supplemental water, but not too much, to get established and look their best.
Creosote may attract critters you don’t want in your yard. Some rodents like to nibble on and burrow under these plants.
Creosote’s appearance has been described as informal, casual, or natural, so this is not a good choice if you want a formal, more manicured look.
Creosote can trigger allergic reactions in some people.
Amazing Fact!
The oldest creosote plant is estimated
to be 11,700 years old.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding a creosote shrub to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep your plant healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Creosote should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 – 11. It thrives in the hottest conditions and is very cold-hardy, down to 5℉.
Sun Exposure
Creosote needs full sun and doesn’t mind the reflected heat from walls and buildings. When grown in part shade, these already sparse shrubs get even more sparse and leggy.
Size and Growth Rate
Creosote is a slow to moderate grower. They typically reach a size of 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide, but can get bigger if regularly watered.
This shrub blooms most heavily in the spring, but also flowers in the fall or after monsoon rains in the summer.
Soil
Creosote roots need a lot of oxygen, so plants grow best in rocky or sandy, well-draining soil.
Pests & Diseases
Creosote galls are common but don’t harm the plant. They’re caused by creosote gall midges (Asphondylia auripila), small flies that lay their eggs on creosote branches.
Other Location Considerations
Creosote cannot tolerate a lot of water, so don’t try to grow one close to plants that receive regular irrigation.
Creosote:
The Essentials
| Common Name | Creosote |
| Scientific Name | Larrea tridentata |
| Origin | Mohave, Chihuahaun, Sonoran Deserts |
| Plant Type | Evergreen shrub |
| USDA Zones | Zones 8 – 11 |
| Cold Hardiness | To 5℉ |
| Flower Color | Yellow |
| Flower Season | Spring, summer, fall |
| Mature Size | 6’ high x 8’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Slow to moderate |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, reflected sun |
| Water Needs | Very low |
| Pests & Diseases | Creosote gall |
| Garden Friendly | No thorns, non-toxic |
| Wildlife | Important wildlife plant |
How to Successfully Plant Creosote
As tough as creosote is, it’s not easy to get a new one established. Many gardeners have tried and failed to transplant a creosote shrub they’ve either dug up or purchased from a nursery. Here are a few tips.
The native plant experts at Tucson’s Spadefoot Nursery have found that starting with a 5 gallon plant (rather than a 1 gallon plant) results in a higher success rate.
Creosote doesn’t like having its roots disturbed, so gently remove it from its container and plant carefully, disturbing the roots as little as possible.
The rule of thumb when planting any shrub in the desert is to dig a hole three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper. If you have any doubt about your soil’s drainage, mix some small gravel in with the native soil when refilling the hole.
It’s often touted that creosote has deep roots, but in fact it’s roots are wide but shallow. The taproot goes down about 3 feet while the lateral roots go down about one foot but extend 10 feet.
Never dig up wild creosote!
They rarely survive transplanting.
When to Plant
The best time to plant creosote is in the fall. This gives your plant three seasons to grow roots and get established before the following summer.
The second best time is in spring, the earlier the better. This still gives your plant time to get established before the intense heat of June arrives.
How to Care for Creosote
Creosote is one plant that truly thrives on neglect, so there’s not much care involved. They don’t need fertilizer. They only need pruning to remove branches that are dead or have creosote gall. Once established, they need almost no supplemental water. But care must be taken to water them properly after transplanting to get them off to a good start.
How to Water
Once you’ve got a new creosote in the ground, water it every 3 days for the first few weeks. Then gradually taper to watering once every 2 weeks, always watering deep and wide. If you’ve had typical winter rains, you don’t need to water at all during the winter.
Established plants can live on rainfall alone, but look better with monthly watering.
Plant Lover Facts
Creosote is also called greasewood. It’s the most widely-used medicinal herb in the Sonoran Desert. Native Americans considered it a panacea and used it both topically and internally to treat a wide variety of ailments.
Creosote sends up sprouts that can form huge rings of clones that can live thousands years. The largest, which has been dubbed “King Clone,” was discovered in California. It is estimated to be 11,700 years old, and making it one of the oldest living organisms in the world!
There’s evidence that in its native habitat, creosote is allelopathic, i.e., it produces chemicals that inhibit the growth of nearby plants. This helps it to dominate its range. But this is not a known problem when grown as a landscape plant.
Creosote grows in the three southwest deserts — Mohave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan. Each desert has its own creosote population that is a distinct form that has a different number of chromosomes.
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for 15 years.
Photo Credits
Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons