Joshua Tree
Yucca brevifolia
Also known as: Schott's yucca
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Bernard Gagnon
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Genus:
- Yucca
- Species:
- Yucca brevifolia
- USDA Symbol:
- YUBR
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 1200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- feb,mar,apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- cream, white, green
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Holcocera gigantella, Prodoxus sordidus, Sosipatra rileyella, Tegeticula synthetica, Colorado giant skipper (Megathymus coloradensis)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) Hummingbirds: Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna), Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae) Moths:beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), Cobubatha dividua, Hemeroplanis incusalis, Nocloa pallens, Nocloa rivulosa, Oxycnemis fusimacula, Schinia deserticola, Tegeticula antithetica, Ursia noctuiformis, Western tent caterpillar (Malacosoma californica), White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata), Zenophleps obscurata Butterflies:Acastus Checkerspot (Chlosyne acastus), American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), American snout butterfly (Libytheana carinenta), Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), California patch (Chlosyne californica), Callophrys Billberg, Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus), Checkered White (Pontia protodice), Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole), Dotted Blue (Euphilotes enoptes), Echo Azure (Celastrina echo), Euchloe lotta, Euphilotes bernardino, Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis), Gold-hunter's hairstreak (Satyrium auretorum), Gray Buckeye (Junonia grisea), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus), Icaricia acmon, Marine Blue (Leptotes marina), Microtia dymas, Mojave Blue (Euphilotes mojave), ⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Northern White-Skipper (Heliopetes ericetorum), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus), Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola), Sara Orangetip (Anthocharis sara), Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo), Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe), Spring white (Pontia sisymbrii), Variable checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona), West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella), Western Pygmy Blue (Brephidium exilis), White Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius albezens), Wright's Metalmark (Calephelis wrighti)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, insects
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Joshua trees can resprout from the base after fire damage, though mature trees are often killed by intense fires. Fire frequency in its habitat is naturally low.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, nutrient-poor, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to very dry
- Notes:
- thrives in desert conditions with minimal rainfall
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best with cold stratification. Light is not required for germination but warm temperatures (20-25°C) improve success.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are clipped and soaked for 3 to 4 hours in water to remove any inhibitors and to allow full imbibition of seeds prior to sowing. Seeds are sown in open flats using a growing medium of 2 parts sand, 1 part mulch and 2 parts perlite.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20°C. Seed germinates within 3 months * higher temperature will inhibit germination