Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
Last reviewed: September 2026
Larrea tridentata is a drought tolerant desert shrub that blooms yellow from March through August and grows best in full sun with very little water.
Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-08-15). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Creosote Bush is listed as toxic to grazing livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats) at a slight level by the USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab). This is a livestock indicator and is separate from pet toxicity.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
36"–72" H × 36"–48" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AZ, CA, CO, KS and 6 more states
Pollinators
bees
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Creosote bush is an iconic desert shrub with small, waxy leaves that give off a distinctive resinous scent, especially after rain. It produces small yellow flowers for much of the growing season and maintains its evergreen foliage year-round in harsh desert conditions.
Growing Creosote Bush
Grow Creosote Bush in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 36 to 72 inches tall and spread 36 to 48 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Creosote Bush takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Height exceeds typical HOA-friendly range
Wildlife value
The long blooming period provides nectar for bees and other pollinators throughout spring and summer. Seeds provide food for desert wildlife including quail and small mammals.
Common questions
- When does creosote bush bloom?
- Larrea tridentata generally flowers from March through August, with the heaviest bloom often occurring after rain events in the desert Southwest.
- How much water does creosote bush need once established?
- Larrea tridentata is adapted to arid conditions and needs little to no supplemental water once it is established in the landscape.
- What pollinates creosote bush flowers?
- Bees, including several solitary desert bee species, are the main pollinators of Larrea tridentata flowers.
- Does creosote bush drop its leaves in winter?
- No, Larrea tridentata is evergreen and keeps its small waxy leaves through the year, though it may shed some leaves under severe drought stress.
- What growing conditions suit creosote bush best?
- Larrea tridentata does best in full sun, well drained soil, and low water conditions typical of hot, dry desert climates.
- Is Creosote Bush toxic to dogs?
- Creosote Bush is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
- Is Creosote Bush toxic to cats?
- Creosote Bush is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
- Is Creosote Bush toxic to livestock?
- Creosote Bush is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (slight severity) by the USDA PLANTS Database. This is separate from pet (dog and cat) toxicity.
- Is Creosote Bush HOA-friendly?
- Creosote Bush takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Creosote Bush? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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