Smoke Trees: The Ghosts of the Desert

 I know, it's definitely not a looker. But the Desert Smoke Tree (or Smoketree), Psorothamnus spinosis, is exquisitely adapted to its environment. For some strange reason, I'm drawn to it. It calls to me. Perhaps because it can thrive where few other plants can survive. And perhaps because it often looks desiccated and decimated, and few people give it a second look. To me, it's the quintessential desert plant. Consider this:

• Smoke Trees are extremely drought tolerant.
• They grow almost exclusively in dry, sandy washes that might get flooded with water from a rare desert thunderstorm once or twice a year (or less).
• For their seeds to sprout, the tough hard seed coat must be scarified (which happens when the seeds tumble and scrape along the sand and rocks in a desert wash). Without this scarificiation, the seeds will not sprout. It helps explain why Smoke Trees are found ONLY in desert washes.
• Once scarified, the seed will germinate and send a taproot downward in search of water. At this time, there is no above soil foliage or growth.
• If the taproot finds sufficient moisture, the Smoke Tree sapling begins to grow upward, establishing above ground foliage.
• It grows best where other plants can't survive: In decomposed granite and sandy soils that contain little organic material. A true desert survivor!

Above is a typical Smoke Trees in a desert wash in Joshua Tree National Park. If you are thinking it doesn't look like a tree, I would agree with you. If you're wondering if they are dead, the answer is no, this is just what they look like. Like I said, not a looker.

 

The first time I approached a Smoke Tree, I was surprised that all its branches ended in spines. Sharp spines! Best not to rub up against them.

 

The color of a Smoke Tree is hard to describe. Muted greens, dull orange, and silver, all on the same tree. Strange, ghostly colors that give the impression it dead or dying. Some say that from a distance it looks like rising smoke (hence the name). The trunk is often crooked, with branches going every which way, making the Smoke Tree about as wide as it is high. It's more bush-like than tree-like. And yet, prominent desert painters often include Smoke Trees in their paintings. To my eye, they perfectly evoke the solitude and loneliness of a classic desert landscape.

John Hilton: "The Breath of Spring"

 

John Hilton: "Mountain Landscape"

 

When the Smoke Tree blooms in early summer, it is covered with small, indigo-colored flowers (another name for a Smoke Tree is Indigo Bush). The display is impressive. Bees are highly attracted to the flowers. 

 (Photo credit: LakeHavisuCity.gov)
 

One of the best places to spend some quality time with Smoke Trees in Joshua Tree National Park is... yes, you guessed it... Smoke Tree Wash!

I walk quietly around the Smoke Trees in Smoke Tree Wash and enjoy the solitude. As the sun drops low on the horizon during golden hour, the Smoke Trees pick up the golden light beautifully and really put on a show. They look more like fire than smoke!

 

 

 

 

 

I think I'll hang around in Smoke Tree Wash for sunset and see what happens!!

  

Thanks for stopping by!

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