Joshua trees
Mojave's twisted sentinels
Joshua trees are tall yuccas native to the Mojave Desert, with spiky leaves clustered at the ends of thick, forking branches.
Their distinctive silhouette—arms reaching upward at odd angles—defines the desert landscape of the American Southwest.
The name reportedly comes from Mormon settlers who saw the trees' branches as arms raised in prayer, like the biblical Joshua.
- Mojave DesertSouthwestern American arid region
- arid climatePersistently dry weather pattern
- desert landscapeArid region's natural scenery
- desertTo leave behind completely
- floweringProducing reproductive structures
Dr. Seuss · yucca · U2 · plants · silhouette · Route 66 · pioneer trail · endemic species · stargazing · moths · twisted · California · ghost town · xerophytes · roadside · endemic · protected habitat · resilience
- American PlantsAmerican elm, aster, azalea, bluebonnets, bluebonnet
- CaliforniaLos Angeles, San Francisco, Hollywood, San Diego, Yosemite
- desert conservationwater management, habitat restoration, endangered species, native plants, invasive species
- Joshua Treeyuccas, yucca, rock formations, Mojave Desert, boulders
- Rural NevadaBeatty, Goldfield, Austin, Eureka, Rachel
- Western ArizonaKingman, Parker, Yuma, Colorado River, Salome
Joshua treeswater lilies
Aquatic flowering pond plants
mangroves · willows · cypress trees · ferns · moss
Joshua treesredwoods
Massive Pacific coast conifers
sequoias · Douglas firs · oaks · maples
Joshua treescacti
Spiny water-storing plants
saguaro cactus · barrel cactus · prickly pear · cholla · grasses