Yucca brevifolia

Joshua Tree-Giant, Yucca Palm

                                          ID#576

 
 

Additional Information: Seeds present from Paula Beattie from her trip to The Grand Canyon. Seeds’ package from “Desert Gatherings”.

 

Tree belongs to the Yucca family.

The name Joshua Tree came from early Mormon pioneers.

Native to the deserts of Southern California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. The first historical notation of the plant was made in 1772 when it was mistaken for a Date Palm. In 1844 it got named Yucca Tree.

First one for me to observe “Botanical Twins” I have 3 very young plants sprouted from two seeds.

They will remain under Glass.

HEIGHT X SPREAD: 15-30 ft x 5 ft PLANT TYPE: Evergreen -Yucca cactus GROWTH RATE: very slow, 4-6 ft in 10 yrs. TEXTURE: Coarse LIGHT: full sun, loves 80-90F degrees. WATER: dry, desert plant SOIL: sandy
As observed in Coastal NC. BLOOMS: February to April. Large white greenish clumps at the end of each arm FRUIT AND SEED: Flowers are germinated by a special moth flying from flower to flower laying eggs. Seeds can be ground up to make a meal for making bread. Germination time 11-21 days. KEY FEATURES: This plant will remain under glass and most likely never reach tree size.
A year cycle in the life of ...... at Mooring Hitch Second attempt to germinate seeds produced 3 from 2 of the 3 seeds planted. Used compost and coarse sand to germinate during early fall. Under glass young plants are kept above 50 F degrees. Dec. 2010 has been a colder than usual winter with many cloudy days. I will separate plants to individual pots, Jan. 2011 - Selected the best two plants and discarded the third. Growing well in 6”clay pots.
          Mooring Hitch Gardens       
 

June 2012

June 2012

Seeds

December 2010

I have two specimens, slow growers. June 2012