Creosote bush.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Fácil

Tipo de planta

Shrub

Luz

Full sun

Luz en interior

Sol directo

Riego

Cada 14 a 30 días

Tamaño adulto

10 feet

Ritmo de crecimiento

Lento

Rusticidad

USDA 7 a 10

Floración

Spring to early summer

Cuidados

This plant needs excellent drainage and very little water once established. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the soil is staying too wet for too long. It prefers to be left alone in a sunny spot.

Riego

Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings to mimic its natural desert habitat.

Abonado

Apply a light, balanced fertilizer only during the active growing season if growth seems stunted.

Poda

Prune lightly in late winter to remove dead wood or to shape the plant.

Trasplante

Only repot when the plant has clearly outgrown its container, as it prefers to be somewhat root bound.

Suelo

Sandy or rocky, well draining soil

pH del suelo

Alkaline

Temperatura

-15 a 50°C

Humedad

10 a 40%

Seguridad

Personas

The plant is toxic if ingested and can cause skin irritation upon contact with the resinous leaves.

Niños

The resinous leaves are sticky and potentially irritating, so children should be discouraged from handling them.

Alérgenos por contacto

The sticky resin on the leaves can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

Alérgenos en el aire

The pollen can be a significant seasonal allergen for those living in desert regions.

Comestibilidad

The plant contains compounds that are not safe for human consumption and may cause liver damage.

Cómo identificarla

• Small, waxy, resinous green leaves
• Bright yellow five petaled flowers
• Fuzzy, spherical seed capsules
• Dark, gnarled woody stems

Altura

1 a 3m

Anchura

1,5 a 4m

Hojas

dark green, olive, evergreen

Flores

yellow, 1 a 2cm

Frutos

white, tan, Summer

Problemas frecuentes

• Root rot — Occurs when the plant is exposed to excessive moisture or poor drainage.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

seed, cuttings

Cuándo plantar

fall, early spring

Group this plant with other desert natives that require minimal irrigation to avoid root rot.

Buenas compañeras

• Baileya multiradiata — They share similar water needs and thrive in the same harsh, sunny conditions.
• Encelia farinosa — This companion provides a nice color contrast and shares the same desert habitat.

Especies parecidas

• Parkinsonia — Both are iconic desert shrubs that provide structure and habitat in arid landscapes.

Ciencia

Familia

Zygophyllaceae

Género

Larrea

Orden

Zygophyllales

Clase

Magnoliopsida

Distribución natural

Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico.

Conservación

It is a common and widespread species in its native range and is not currently of conservation concern.

It survives in arid environments by using a combination of deep taproots and shallow lateral roots to capture scarce moisture.

Valor para la fauna

nectar source, shelter for desert reptiles

Polinizadores

abejas, mariposas, escarabajos

Usos

xeriscaping, desert restoration, erosion control

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

Does it need much water?

No, it is highly drought tolerant and prefers to be left alone once established.

Can I grow it in a pot?

It is difficult to grow in containers due to its deep taproot and specific soil requirements.

De dónde viene el nombre

The genus name honors Spanish botanist Juan de Larrea, while the species name refers to its three-lobed fruit.

Bueno saberlo

• The distinctive smell of the desert after rain is largely due to the oils released by this plant.
• It is also known as the greasewood bush due to its waxy, resinous leaves.
• The plant has a unique ability to self-prune branches to conserve water during extreme drought.
• It is a cornerstone species that defines the landscape of the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts.