Joshua tree

American  

noun

1. an evergreen tree, Yucca brevifolia, growing in arid or desert regions of the southwestern U.S., having long, twisted branches.

---

Joshua tree British  

noun

1. a treelike desert yucca plant, Yucca brevifolia, of the southwestern US, with sword-shaped leaves and greenish-white flowers

---

Etymology

Origin of Joshua tree

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

In that case, sources said, most new Joshua tree growth would come from seeds brought into the burn scar by seed dispersers like antelope squirrels.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2025

Cummings of the Center for Biological Diversity, which petitioned to list the Joshua tree under the California Endangered Species Act, said a hands-off approach generally would not bode well for the iconic trees.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2025

Explorer John C. Frémont’s 1844 description of the Joshua tree as “the most repulsive tree in the vegetable kingdom” was just the beginning.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2025

That law requires people who perform work that kills all or part of a Joshua tree to receive a permit and to pay mitigation fees for each tree harmed.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 16, 2025

While we were in Midland, Mom painted dozens of variations and studies of the Joshua tree.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls