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Yucca brevifolia, the Joshua tree is a typical species of
the Mojave desert in Califonia, Arizona, Nevada and
northwards to Utah. The species name brevifolia comes
from the Latin for short leafed. The tallest trees reach
about 15 meters tall. Yucca brevifolia is great for a
bird garden and a butterfly garden.
The trunk of a Joshua tree is made of thousands of small
fibers. Older plants form a sturdy trunk that supports
many crowns with typical spikey leaves. Yucca brevifolia's
foliage color is green, evergreen. The rigid leaves are
linear, bayonet-shaped, 16 inches long and 1 inch wide,
tapering to a sharp point; they are borne in a dense
spiral arrangement at the apex of the stems.
The Joshua tree blooms in early Spring. The nodding
panicles are 20 inches long, bearing 3 inch greenish-white
flowers with six tepals. Joshua trees usually do not
branch until after they bloom and they don't bloom every
year. Like most desert plants, their blooming is
dependent on rainfall at the proper time. They also need
a Winter freeze before they will bloom.
The fruit is a light brown to reddish capsule, 2.5 to 5
inches long, 2 inches in diameter, it dries and falls
soon after maturity in late Spring. The fruit is edible.
Hardiness zones 7-10, (1°C/35°F, -15°C/5°F) in Winter.
The Joshua tree is very cold hardy and takes severe
freezes with ease but, being a true plant of the desert,
it prefers drier climates and is difficult to keep alive
in cool, wet conditions. Extremely heat tolerant. They
need sun, perfect drainage and little Summer water.
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