Joshua tree

American

noun

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

Joshua tree British

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Joshua tree

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Joshua tree

Such observations could help California decide where to prioritize Joshua tree conservation as it implements a sweeping plan to protect the plants from climate threats.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026

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

For a brief moment, it appeared the reviled Joshua tree would serve this purpose.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2025

Boiling Joshua tree pulp proved too costly, and the mills failed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2025

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

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023