King Clone

A short drive east from Lucerne Valley, California exists what is believed to be one of the oldest living plants on earth. Creosote bushes, sometimes referred to as greasewood have been found in the Mohave desert near Old Woman Springs and dead pieces of the wood have been radiocarbon dated to be over 9,000 years old. One particular bush, named King-Clone has received world-wide attention. King Clone is the oldest Creosote bush ring in the Mojave Desert. The ring is estimated to be 11,700 years old. It is considered one of the oldest living organisms on Earth. This single clonal colony plant ofLarrea tridentata reaches up to 67 feet (20 m) in diameter, with an average diameter of 45 feet (14 m).    Old Woman Springs Road and Bessemer Mine Rd. You can see it from google maps. Its to the right of the road