Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) is one of the most brilliantly flowering native shrubs. Growing up to 10 feet tall and wide, it is dramatically covered each spring with golden yellow flowers. Native to the Mojave, Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts, it does not require any water once established but will flower and put on new growth at any time following rain or supplemental irrigation. This species gets its name from the creosote odor that it exudes, especially when wet. It has a curious growth habit. Although individual plants have a lifespan of 30-90 years, adventitious shoots grow up from roots. These develop into new plants, clones of the original, that form a ring around the spot where the original plant stood. Lucerne Valley is home to the oldest known clone of this kind, which has been dubbed King Clone. It is 11,700 years old and measures 72 by 26 feet.<br>