Joshua Trees: Probably the Only Fairly Interesting From Where I Live

So, I live in the Mojave Desert. More specifically, the ‘High Desert’. And here, I don’t get to see grass often. So don’t tell me to touch grass or anything cause I can’t. In the High Desert and Most of the Mojave Desert, there are these trees known as Joshua Trees. And at 3:00 am on a Saturday I felt like writing about them. I don’t know why exactly, but I do know I was asked about the desert. So, without further due, let’s begin!

Joshua Trees are a Yucca plant. Yucca’s are known for being evergreens with rosettes. Yuca’s are a root-type plant. Very similar spelling and pronunciation, I know. Joshua Trees have the scientific name of Yucca brevifolia and the Spanish name izote de desierto, which basically means desert dagger.

They are actually quite fast for being a desert plant when it comes to seedlings to fully grown. Although, them being trees they still grow painfully slow to me. The rate they grow at according to Wikipedia is “7.6 cm (3.0 in) per year in their first 10 years, then only about 3.8 cm (1.5 in) per year.” These trees can last up to hundreds or maybe thousands of years if the weather and outside forces aren’t too harsh. If too much water is given, the tree will look spindly and not full like it should. (example below)

Joshua Trees have to face the same direction, that being south, their whole life because they have to receive sun in a certain way.

Joshuas lack rings and are actually made up of fibers in the trunk. They have an incredible root system that can span up to 36ft(11m). The tree itself can get as tall as 15ft give or so.

Despite their largeness, they are also endangered. If you move a Joshua Tree without professional help or without a permit, you are fined $5,000 and/or land yourself six months in prison. If you had help/permission to move a tree, you have to replant it in the same direction and in the same season. To signal the direction it was facing, people use a ribbon. (example below)