diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6d48e63..b370b94 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ Ensure the output directory is on `fpath`, then restart zsh or run `compinit`.
 The generated function:
 
 - routes most commands to `git-wt` (`wt create`, `wt list`, `wt prune`, …)
-- after a successful `wt create`, `cd`s into the new worktree (`--no-cd` to stay put)
+- after a successful `wt create`, `cd`s into the new worktree (`--no-cd` or `-r` | `--herdr` to stay put)
 - provides a shell-only `switch` that `cd`s into a worktree
 - after a successful `wt remove`, `cd`s to the main worktree
 
@@ -66,15 +66,15 @@ Set this **before** `source <(carapace _carapace)`. You may need `carapace --cle
 Create a managed worktree for a branch.
 
 - If the branch already exists, the worktree is created from that branch.
-- If the branch does not exist, it is created from the upstream branch; which defaults to the default origin branch but can be set explicity with `--upstream` | `-u`.
-- With `--herdr`, also create a [Herdr](https://herdr.dev) workspace whose `--cwd` is the new worktree and whose `--label` is the worktree name (branch name). Requires `herdr` on `PATH` and a running Herdr server.
+- If the branch does not exist, it is created from the branch pointed at by `origin/HEAD`; set it explicitly with `--upstream` | `-u`.
+- With `-r` | `--herdr`, also create a [Herdr](https://herdr.dev) workspace whose `--cwd` is the new worktree and whose `--label` is the worktree name (branch name). `wt create -r` implies `--no-cd`. Requires `herdr` on `PATH` and a running Herdr server.
 
 Example:
 
 ```bash
 git-wt create feature/login
 git-wt create -u origin/v1.2 hotfix/1.2.1
-git-wt create --herdr feature/login
+git-wt create -r feature/login
 ```
 
 ### `git-wt list`
diff --git a/internal/gitwt/gitwt_create.go b/internal/gitwt/gitwt_create.go
index c320a46..ee6cd5a 100644
--- a/internal/gitwt/gitwt_create.go
+++ b/internal/gitwt/gitwt_create.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ func NewCreateCommand() *cobra.Command {
 	}
 
 	command.Flags().StringVarP(&options.upstream, "upstream", "u", "", "Upstream branch")
-	command.Flags().BoolVar(&options.herdr, "herdr", false, "Also create a Herdr workspace for the new worktree")
+	command.Flags().BoolVarP(&options.herdr, "herdr", "r", false, "Also create a Herdr workspace for the new worktree")
 
 	return command
 }
diff --git a/internal/gitwt/gitwt_generate_zsh.go b/internal/gitwt/gitwt_generate_zsh.go
index 657568c..7892ec9 100644
--- a/internal/gitwt/gitwt_generate_zsh.go
+++ b/internal/gitwt/gitwt_generate_zsh.go
@@ -93,6 +93,10 @@ func (x *zshCommandOptions) writeFunctionFile(target string) error {
             --no-cd)
                 no_cd=1
                 ;;
+            -r|--herdr)
+                no_cd=1
+                forward+=("$arg")
+                ;;
             -u|--upstream)
                 forward+=("$arg")
                 skip_next=1
@@ -216,6 +220,16 @@ _` + x.name + `() {
     fi
 
     case $words[2] in
+    create)
+        shift words
+        (( CURRENT-- ))
+        _arguments \
+            '--no-cd[Create without changing directories]' \
+            '(-r --herdr)'{-r,--herdr}'[Also create a Herdr workspace for the new worktree]' \
+            '(-u --upstream)'{-u,--upstream}'[Upstream branch]:upstream branch:' \
+            '(-h --help)'{-h,--help}'[help for create]' \
+            '1:worktree name:'
+        ;;
     switch|remove)
         if ! git rev-parse --is-inside-work-tree 1>/dev/null 2>/dev/null; then
             return 1
diff --git a/internal/gitwt/gitwt_test.go b/internal/gitwt/gitwt_test.go
index 75dc39c..f811a85 100644
--- a/internal/gitwt/gitwt_test.go
+++ b/internal/gitwt/gitwt_test.go
@@ -86,6 +86,38 @@ func TestCreateSucceedsWithWorktreeConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestCreateUsesOriginHeadAsDefaultUpstream(t *testing.T) {
+	const defaultBranch = "default"
+	const branchName = "feature/origin-head"
+	const fileName = "default.txt"
+	const fileContents = "default branch\n"
+
+	testRepository := newTestRepository(t)
+	runGitCommand(t, testRepository.mainPath, "checkout", "-b", defaultBranch, remoteName+"/main")
+	testRepository.writeFile(t, filepath.Join(testRepository.mainPath, fileName), fileContents)
+	runGitCommand(t, testRepository.mainPath, "add", fileName)
+	runGitCommand(t, testRepository.mainPath, "commit", "-m", "default branch")
+	runGitCommand(t, testRepository.mainPath, "push", "-u", remoteName, defaultBranch)
+	runGitCommand(t, testRepository.mainPath, "checkout", "main")
+	runGitCommand(t, testRepository.mainPath, "remote", "set-head", remoteName, defaultBranch)
+
+	result := testRepository.runGitWT(t, "create", branchName)
+	if result.err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("create failed: %v\n%s", result.err, result.stderr)
+	}
+
+	createdCommit := strings.TrimSpace(runGitCommand(t, testRepository.mainPath, "rev-parse", branchName))
+	upstreamCommit := strings.TrimSpace(runGitCommand(t, testRepository.mainPath, "rev-parse", remoteName+"/"+defaultBranch))
+	if createdCommit != upstreamCommit {
+		t.Fatalf("created branch commit = %s, want %s", createdCommit, upstreamCommit)
+	}
+
+	upstream := strings.TrimSpace(runGitCommand(t, testRepository.mainPath, "rev-parse", "--abbrev-ref", branchName+"@{upstream}"))
+	if upstream != remoteName+"/"+defaultBranch {
+		t.Fatalf("created branch upstream = %q, want %q", upstream, remoteName+"/"+defaultBranch)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestCreateWithHerdrInvokesHerdrWorkspaceCreate(t *testing.T) {
 	const branchName = "feature/herdr"
 
@@ -93,9 +125,9 @@ func TestCreateWithHerdrInvokesHerdrWorkspaceCreate(t *testing.T) {
 	logPath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "herdr.log")
 	installFakeHerdr(t, logPath, 0)
 
-	result := testRepository.runGitWT(t, "create", "--herdr", branchName)
+	result := testRepository.runGitWT(t, "create", "-r", branchName)
 	if result.err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("create --herdr failed: %v\n%s", result.err, result.stderr)
+		t.Fatalf("create -r failed: %v\n%s", result.err, result.stderr)
 	}
 	testRepository.assertPathPresent(t, testRepository.worktreePath(branchName))
 	if !strings.Contains(result.stderr, "created herdr workspace "+branchName) {
@@ -462,6 +494,8 @@ func TestGenerateZshGeneratesWrapperFunctionAndCompletion(t *testing.T) {
 		"case \"$1\" in",
 		"create)",
 		"--no-cd)",
+		"-r|--herdr)",
+		"no_cd=1",
 		"command git-wt create \"${forward[@]}\"",
 		"switch)",
 		"remove)",
@@ -483,6 +517,9 @@ func TestGenerateZshGeneratesWrapperFunctionAndCompletion(t *testing.T) {
 	if strings.Contains(functionText, "${name//\\//.}") || strings.Contains(functionText, "${arg//\\//.}") {
 		t.Fatalf("function still normalizes slashes in paths:\n%s", functionText)
 	}
+	if !strings.Contains(functionText, "-r|--herdr)\n                no_cd=1\n                forward+=(\"$arg\")") {
+		t.Fatalf("function does not make --herdr imply --no-cd:\n%s", functionText)
+	}
 
 	completionText := string(completionContent)
 	for _, want := range []string{
@@ -491,6 +528,10 @@ func TestGenerateZshGeneratesWrapperFunctionAndCompletion(t *testing.T) {
 		"remove:Remove a managed Git worktree",
 		"create:Create a managed Git worktree",
 		"case $words[2] in",
+		"create)",
+		"--no-cd[Create without changing directories]",
+		"'(-r --herdr)'{-r,--herdr}'[Also create a Herdr workspace for the new worktree]'",
+		"'(-u --upstream)'{-u,--upstream}'[Upstream branch]:upstream branch:'",
 		"switch|remove)",
 		"worktrees=(main)",
 		"/.git/wt/",