Joshua tree

Yucca brevifolia

Family:: Asparagaceae
Elevation:: 1,300 ft – 5,900 ft
Bloom:: Feb – Apr
Region:: Southwest

The iconic branching tree-yucca of the Mojave, with shaggy forked limbs tipped by dense clusters of stiff, dagger-like leaves and knobby greenish-white spring flower heads. It defines the Mojave skyline and anchors an ecosystem of birds, lizards, and its obligate yucca-moth pollinator.

Care · tuned to the Southwest

Water

Very drought tolerant; needs occasional deep soaks only during establishment and prolonged drought. Overwatering and summer irrigation readily trigger root and trunk rot.

Sun & exposure

Full sun with excellent tolerance of intense heat and reflected glare.

Soil

Requires gritty, sharply drained sandy or decomposed-granite soil; will not tolerate soggy or clay-heavy ground.

In the Southwest

A Mojave endemic hardy to about 0–10°F but stressed by climates outside its range. Leaves are needle-sharp. Notoriously slow-growing, deep-rooted, and very hard to transplant — best grown from seed and left in place.

Common problems & fixes

Transplant failure — slow, often fatal decline after moving
Fix — Avoid transplanting established trees; start from seed or nursery stock and disturb roots as little as possible.
Root/trunk rot from overwatering
Fix — Plant in gritty fast-draining soil and never irrigate on a lawn schedule, especially in summer heat.

Pets & toxicity

Not highly toxic, but saponins can cause mild GI upset if eaten; the primary hazard is mechanical — extremely sharp, rigid leaf tips that can injure eyes and paws.

Easy to confuse with

Mojave yucca (Yucca schidigera) — unbranched or few-stemmed with longer leaves
Soaptree yucca (Yucca elata) — narrower flexible leaves and a slimmer, less-branched trunk

Sources

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