Joshua Trees

[MarkB]

I know they are primarily located in California and Arizona, just wondering if anyone has seen one or more at a time in the Bend and if so when and where?  If not, wondering why not as the desert climate in the Bend is similar to Mojave.

[jeffblaylock]

I've not seen one in the Big Bend area, though other kinds of yuccas flourish there.

This article on creosote, a common plant in Big Bend, might shed some light on how different the two deserts may actually be for the plants, even though to us the climates are quite similar.

[rgibson]

Not an expert on Joshua Trees,  but there are a small # of Joshua Trees in the Trans-Pecos.

The largest  known in Texas is on 118 south of Alpine, as I remember.

[presidio]

I know they are primarily located in California and Arizona, just wondering if anyone has seen one or more at a time in the Bend and if so when and where?  If not, wondering why not as the desert climate in the Bend is similar to Mojave.

The desert climate just looks similar; however, it is considerably different regarding plant range. Joshua trees typically are found at much lower elevations than exist in the Chihuahuan desert. The generally higher elevation of the Chihuahuan desert equals colder and wetter, even though this might not seem the case at first glance. Any given week in the Mojave desert will be significantly warmer than Big Bend, with far less moisture. In places where Joshua trees thrive it is not uncommon to have less than 2" of rain a year.

[Joe]

Not an expert on Joshua Trees,  but there are a small # of Joshua Trees in the Trans-Pecos.

The largest  known in Texas is on 118 south of Alpine, as I remember.

I have to disagree with you.  The Joshua Tree is a yucca, Yucca brevifolia.  There are several species of yucca in the Trans-Pecos, but not the Joshua Tree.

[MarkB]

Thanks everybody for the responses to date. I have read that they can grow in elevations up to 4000 feet and acknowledge that the Bend desert will never be as dry as the Mojave. Still it would be an interesting experiment for some of you guys and gals who own land at the Terlingua ranch for example to give it a try and see if they will even grow at all. From what I have read, the trees growth support a lot of wildlife, birds, reptiles, etc. and are considered beneficial in the deserts where they flourish. Anyways, it was just one of those things to think about....

[Hayduke]

As I recall, the JTree is an indicator plant for the Mohave Desert. So growing them in Big Bend (Chihuahuan desert) would be like growing Saguaros in the Mohave or Chihuahuan. Or Lechugillas in the Mohave or Sonoran desert. If they spread they would no longer be indicator plants.

I do know of a lone Saguaro growing in a yard in Candelaria (or at least it was a few years ago).

And come to think of it, those other deserts can take all the lechugillas they want!