Creosote bush, Greasewood
Larrea tridentata

Family: Zygophyllaceae

What it is like

An evergreen plant. It is a straggling shrub. It grows 1.8-3.5 m tall and spreads 1.8-3 m wide. It has jointed stems which form suckers. The bark is dark grey to black. The leaves are compound. They are dark green or yellowish green and have 2-3 spear shaped leaflets. They produce a resin which smells like creosote. The flowers are small and yellow. They are 12 mm across.

There are 5 Larrea species. They grow in deserts in north and south America.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate plant. It will grow in poor soils and under unfavourable conditions. It suits hardiness zones 7-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Mexico, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The flower buds are pickled in vinegar and eaten as a substitute for capers. The twigs are chewed to relieve thirst. The stems and leaves are used as a substitute for tea. A resin from the leaves and twigs delays butter, oils amd fats from becoming rancid.

Edible parts

Flower buds, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

It is slow growing. The plant has an inhibitor in its roots and leaves that inhibits the germination of seeds thus reducing competition.

Its other names

Local names

Chaparral, Coville, Gobernadora, Little stinker

Synonyms

Larrea mexicana Moric.; Larrea divaricata subsp. tridentata (DC.) Felger; Neoschroetera tridentata (Sesse & Moc. ex DC.) Briq; and several others