Foresters might be slightly offended by the Dr. Seuss-like Joshua Tree's inclusion in the general category of "tree" when it seems so inferior to mighty monarchs of the forest. Except for the bark, the weak-rooted, spiny-leafed, slow-growing Joshua Tree shares no characteristics with a tree. Squirrels don't even climb them! Of course, it does enjoy the status of a protected species.
Worry no longer!! The Joshua Tree, yucca bevifolia, is NOT a tree at all. It is a Yucca in the Agavaceae family. The main trunk, for lack of a better term, has a soft, loosely-fibrous, spongy center where moisture is held. It has no growth rings to determine age. It is quite tempermental and has very specific needs for healthy growth and sustainability. Elevation, precise amounts of rain at strategic times, sunshine and just the right number of winter frosts determine whether there will be blossoms. Not all will blossom every year.
Not being a Forester myself, I'll just leave it at that...lest my ignorance come shining through.
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