Pay a visit to one of our deserts, and you will likely see creosote bush. Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) is one of the more common plants in our deserts. It occurs in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts in California.

The average person likely looks at a creosote bush and thinks that it is a worthless, ugly desert plant. Maybe I can change your mind.

First of all, the plant is incredibly resilient. The creosote bush is the most drought-tolerant plant in North America. It can live without any rain for more than two years and readily survives in prolonged droughts. Creosote bush can live where practically nothing else can. The plant is also rather beautiful when it blooms.

Native Americans used the creosote bush for a wide range of ailments including snake bite, chicken pox, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases. Creosote bush was taken for gastrointestinal problems. They chewed and swallowed the gum to treat dysentery and other intestinal problems. The creosote bush was also used to treat respiratory problems related to colds and asthma. The plant was used to make poultices and infusions to treat rheumatism, arthritis, sprains and bruises. Natives used decoctions of leaves, stems and gum to create an antiseptic, which was used for sore throats, wounds and sores. The plant was even used to treat cancer.

Modern scientists have confirmed that creosote bush possesses analgesic, antiseptic, antiviral and antibiotic properties. Interestingly, extracts of creosote have also been found by modern scientists to kill some types of cancer cells. Perhaps they will find a way to harness the useful properties of this plant to create a miracle cancer treatment in the future; the plant’s toxicity has prevented that thus far.

Although the Federal Drug Administration discourages the use of creosote bush and other “chaparral” for medicinal purposes due to toxicity to the liver and kidneys, many people today use the creosote bush to treat ailments much as the Native Americans did.

Finally, the creosote bush is important to wildlife. Desert reptiles and amphibians use creosote bush as a food source and a perch site. They also hibernate in burrows under creosote bushes, thus hiding from predators and avoiding the hot sun.

Desert tortoises often dig their burrows under creosote bushes where the roots stabilize the sand. Many birds and small mammals such as kangaroo rats and kit foxes use the creosote bush as shelter. The black-tailed jackrabbit and desert woodrat also eat various parts of the creosote bush.

So, the next time you are out in the desert, hopefully you will give those creosote bushes a second look – and some newfound appreciation.

Linda Castro is a nature enthusiast and animal lover. She is the Desert Field Organizer for the California Wilderness Coalition and serves on the board of the SCV-based Community Hiking Club. Her commentaries highlight local and community stories that are heartwarming, uplifting or inspiring.