creosote bush Zygophyllaceae Larrea tridentata (DC.) Coville symbol: LATR2 Leaf: Opposite, simple, evergreen, compound with 2 small (1/4 to 1/2 inch long) leaflets, generally elliptical but often curved, yellow-green to green and appear varnished, fragrant particularly after a rain. Flower: Five bright yellow twisted sepals, about 1 to 1 1/2 inches across, occur at the ends of the twigs, appearing in spring and scattered throughout the year. Fruit: Capsule (1/4 inch), covered in long, stiff white hairs. Twig: Slender, light gray to reddish brown, each node is ringed in a darker color and is slightly swollen. Bark: Initially smooth and gray, eventually becomes darker and splits into shallow fissures and flat plates. Form: A multi-stemmed shrub commonly up to 4 feet tall but may reach 15 feet, generally a round shape. Spreads by cloning itself along the edges of the plant often resulting in a circular pattern of "cloned" plants. Additional Range Information: Larrea tridentata is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting creosote bush. External Links: USDAFS Additional Silvics USDA Plants Database © Copyright 2016, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson