Native plant species across Utah's varied topography—from the desert southwest to mountain streams—exhibit distinct biological characteristics and environmental requirements. These species, including the Joshua Tree, Blue Elder, and Desert-willow, serve as vital components of their respective ecosystems, ranging from high-elevation shrubs to long-lived desert succulents.
Characteristics of the Joshua Tree
The Joshua Tree, scientifically known as Yucca brevifolia, is native to much of the desert southwest. In Utah, these plants can be found in extreme southwestern regions at elevations below 3,500 feet. Some specimens are visible between the lanes of Interstate 15 as travelers approach St. George. These plants grow in hot, dry areas and frequently occupy valley bottoms.
Joshua Tree Morphology
The Joshua Tree is an evergreen broadleaf that retains its leaves for more than one year. Its leaves are clustered at the plant base and along the stem, measuring approximately 12 inches long. These leaves are simple, sword-shaped, stiff, and pointed, with blue-green coloration and serrate margins. The plant's dark-brown bark is platy, and the lower stems are often covered with old, dead leaves that curl downward after they die.
Growth and Flowering Patterns
While often shrubby, the Joshua Tree can reach a height of 20 feet and a trunk diameter of 24 inches. The plant is long-lived and produces large, yellow-white flowers in showy clusters on long stalks at the ends of the stems, which typically appear in April. Following the flowers, the plant produces fruit in the form of a large capsule that hangs down once it reaches maturity. Although rarely used in landscaping, the species is considered a suitable native plant for hot, dry sites where freezing temperatures are infrequent.
The Blue Elder in Moist Environments
In contrast to the desert-dwelling Joshua Tree, the Blue Elder, or Sambucus cerulea, is native to much of the western United States, including most of Utah. This species prefers abundant water and typically grows in moist areas along mountain streams. The Blue Elder is a deciduous plant that is shade intolerant but can thrive in protected sites.
Blue Elder Physical Traits
The Blue Elder features opposite, pinnately compound leaves that range from 4 to 7 inches in length. These leaves consist of 5 to 9 leaflets that are narrow to oblong, measuring between 1 and 6 inches long. The foliage is green and glabrous on the top surface, while the underside is either light and glabrous or pubescent. The plant's twigs are stout, brownish-red, and somewhat angled or ridged, characterized by large, triangular leaf scars that nearly circle the stem.
Blue Elder Fruit and Size
The Blue Elder produces small, yellow-white, perfect flowers in large, flat-topped clusters at the ends of its branches during June or July. These flowers are followed by a dark blue, berry-like drupe that matures in late summer. These fruits are approximately 1/4 inch in diameter and are described as sweet, juicy, and edible, often collected for use in jams, jellies, pies, and wine. While generally a shrub or small tree, specimens have been observed reaching 20 to 30 feet in height with a diameter of 8 to 10 inches near the Guinavah-Malibu amphitheater in Logan Canyon.
The Desert-willow Profile Overview,
The Desert-willow, known scientifically as Chilopsis linearis, is a small, shrubby tree native to warm locations along streams in southwestern Utah and throughout the extreme southwestern United States. Like the Blue Elder, the Desert-willow is shade intolerant and is not a true willow. This species is described as being fairly short-lived.
