Yucca brevifolia is native to the states of Nevada, Utah, Arizona and California. It occurs on desert flats and slopes, and is most abundant in the Mojave Desert between 400-1800 m. Well known is the popular Joshua Tree National Park were the oldest Y. brevifolia is about 300 years of age. But Joshua trees have an average life span of 150-200 years. The Joshua tree is in the desert the oldest living plant. An approximately 20 m tall tree in California was an estimated 900 years old. Yucca i comes in two varieties: Y.brevifolia ssp. jaegeriana and Y.brevifolia herbertii. Y.brevifolia is a tree like species and the largest of all native yuccas in the United States. It can reach heights of 10-15 m, and because of the many branches which grow in all directions they can reach a diameter of 9 m. The rigid, sharp pointed leaves are 15-35 cm long and 8-13 mm wide, and have minute teeth along the edge. The leaves vary in colour from grey-green to light blue-green and have minute teeth along the edge. The inflorescence is only 29-50 cm long with creamy greenish, 4-7 cm long flowers. Y.brevifolia is not easily mixed up with other yucca's, but most of our visitors think that the branched Y.thomposoniana from Texas is a Joshua tree. The Y.brevifolia tolerates European wet climates down to -14°C but in dry climates it can take -23°C. Older plants are difficult to transplant.

It is desirable as an ornamental centre in the garden, but an expensive one. Starting in April 2008 Tropical Centre will have nice specimen size plants in stock….as well as smaller plants with 2 or 3 heads.

Like all yucca's they like sun and a well drained soil, in wet climates it is better to remove the panicle after a few weeks, as the flowers fall down in the crown and start rotting. The yucca is most vulnerable after flowering as the stalk leaves a hole through which rain water enters the hart which could lead to rot. When the old flower stalk has rotted away, it is better to seal the hole with cement; the new growing spears will push it aside.

In our webshop we sometimes have this yucca for sale.

Authors drs C.N. Klijn and R.H. Smeets from Tropical Centre have studied yuccas in the wild and also then thousands of import yucca plants from everywhere in Mexico and the USA. Learn more about yuccas and our yucca background through the website buttons about us, photo-albums and newsletters. If you mention us, as the source you may use our descriptions and pictures.