Desert Fir or Pygmy Cedar

Whether you call it pygmy cedar because of the fragrance and because it is smaller than the tall cedars of the forest, or desert fir (or dwarf fir) because the leaves resembles those of the fir tree, a Peucephyllum schottii is always a pleasure to find. Bees think the same way, especially when the shrub’s flowers are rich with yellow pollen. The bees get busy removing the pollen to reveal a red base. The specimen shown is more than six feet tall. Look for desert fir in sandy washes and on rocky slopes.