Photo by Mare Czinar

PLANT PROFILE
Botanical name: Larrea tridentata
Plant type: Evergreen shrub
Blooms: Lemon-yellow flowers followed by tiny fruiting bodies covered in fuzzy silver-white hairs
Bloom season: Spring to fall; most abundant in spring
Mature size: 6 feet tall and wide
Water needs: Extremely drought-tolerant once established; growth is more rapid and foliage more dense with occasional deep irrigation.
Where to plant: Full or reflected sun and heat
When to plant: Spring or fall
Maintenance: A fine choice for low-maintenance, naturalistic landscapes.  Remove occasional dead branches at its base.
Note: After rain, resin in the foliage creates a fresh desert scent. It also is an excellent plant to attract native birds.