Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

The Smokethorn (Psorothamnus spinosus) is a perennial legume tree common to the desert washes of the southern part of California, Arizona, and most of Baja California. The Smokethorn is also common to Joshua Tree National Park, where it is called the Smoketree. The twigs of the Smokethorn are slender and densely covered with fine whitish hairs. The flowers are lateral clusters of purple in June, with small seeded pea pods as its fruit.

Plant type

Tree

Size

5 - 26 ft Tall

Calscape icon
Color

White, Purple

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Low, Very Low

Ease of care

Moderate

Soil drainage

Fast

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Sunset Zones

12*, 13*

Site type

Desert washes

Plant communities

Creosote Bush Scrub

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 1 likely

Confirmed Likely

Hemileuca burnsi