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Cultivating Larrea tridentata (creosote)
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Posted by mike_el_paso z8 El Paso (My Page) on Mon, Jul 3, 06 at 14:40
This is such a nice versatile plant for the southwest I’m surprised its not used more extensively as a landscape plant. It takes very little water to produce a very green lush plant (the only water mine receives is the run off coming from my Italian cypress just out of the picture shot to the left), it emits a wonderful fragrance after a very welcomed monsoon rain, and once established is almost indestructible.
It can be severely pruned at any time of the year with no ill affect. It can actually be used as a very suitable topiary plant. As you can see, I’m training mine by pruning from the bottom up to create the effect of a small tree. I have also seen in pruned flat on top to form a box hedge like the ones pictured from Las Cruces.
My little creosote tree
Box hedge in Las Cruces
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Cultivating Larrea tridentata (creosote)
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| Hi Mike- A few years ago I was in Las Cruces and remember waking up one morning to the beautiful smell of creosote in the air. I agree that creosote is a great plant for our dry climate. For some reason it just doesn't seem to be very popular. I think some people don't find the fragrance very appealing, although I personally like it very much. Also, it doesn't seem widely available in nurseries, at least here in Albuquerque. I had one in a container, but it died. I just don't think it's the kind of plant that can stand container culture. Regards- cd |
RE: Cultivating Larrea tridentata (creosote)
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- Posted by randit z8 southern NM (My Page) on
Sat, Jul 8, 06 at 23:50
| Geesh...I think Creosote is truly ugggly "Puckerbrush" (looong story behind the designation...gotta be a dry-land rancher from Oregon, to understand the term). In short...this stuff is Coyote Ugly. All of our environs are pretty much singularly populated by this "weed". I think it stinks..phewww..when wet. Do you have to grow up the in the SW, to like this kinda Scrub?I I have heard that Creosote may also hinder other plants from naturalizing, near their spreading populations. Is this true? |
RE: Cultivating Larrea tridentata (creosote)
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| Well, people either love it or hate it I suppose (count me in the former). Even if you dislike the plant's appearance or smell, you have to respect it for it's sheer tenacity. It can survive severe drought and extreme heat and cold, and for long periods of time to boot. It is also believed to be a very long lived plant, living perhaps thousands of years. I too have heard that creosote secretes a certain chemical into the soil which prevents other plants from growing underneath it or near it. This probably explains why in some places there are literally miles and miles of almost nothing but creosote. cd |
RE: Cultivating Larrea tridentata (creosote)
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I have also heard that about creosote hindering other plants'growth, but in my garden west of Las Cruces, I have several other species, native and nonnative alike, who live happily side by side many creosote shrubs. All are doing well with their similar water requirements.
Mike, I love the way you are training your creosote into a tree form. I will borrow your idea. |
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