Creosote bush
Creosote bush is the most common plant of the hot, dry deserts and one of the defining shrubs of the Mojave. Creosote, Larrea tridentata, is well adapted to harsh conditions and can survive where heat, dryness, and poor soil limit many other plants. Its leaves contain strong-smelling oils and resins that discourage many animals from browsing, yet the plant still supports a surprising amount of desert life.
Many animals live in and around creosote. Insects feed on it, lizards take shelter beneath it, and midge larvae form round, brown galls on its stems. Rodents often burrow among its roots, loosening and aerating the soil. This improves water drainage and helps shape the small habitat around the plant.
In this way, creosote bush is more than the most common shrub of the desert. It is also a center of activity, shelter, and survival for many forms of life along the bajada trail.
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More information about the Creosote bush