How to Plant a Joshua Tree Seed
Named for the biblical Joshua of the Old Testament, the Joshua tree (yucca brevifolia) grows to heights of 20 feet at maturity and produces 1 ½-inch blooms, cream in color. The Joshua tree also yields 2-inch long, brown and green fruits, which fall from the tree in late spring. The Joshua tree depends solely on the yucca moth for pollination, and without it, the tree will not bear fruit. An interesting addition to the backyard landscape, the dark green foliage of the Joshua tree grows in sharp, bayonet like points. If you live within USDA hardiness zones 6 through 10, you can successfully plant a Joshua tree seed, producing a tree that can live up to 200 years.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- 4-inch peat pots
- Sterile potting soil
- Joshua tree seeds
- Spray water bottle
- Plastic wrap
- Rubber bands
- Shallow tray
- Grow light
- Plant-heating pad
-
-
1
Fill 4-inch peat pots, 2 inches from the top, with sterile potting soil.
-
2
Push the Joshua tree seeds down approximately ¼-inch into the soil. Bury one seed per pot.
-
3
Spritz the potting soil in the peat pots with a water bottle to moisten. Place a piece of plastic wrap over each of the peat pots, secure with a rubber band.
-
4
Set the peat pots in a shallow tray that contains approximately 1 inch of water. The water in the tray will provide constant moisture to the bottom of the peat pots.
-
5
Place the tray in direct sunlight to encourage germination. If you do not have a window that provides full sun, set up a grow light. Adjust the settings on the grow light to provide at least 12 hours of light per day.
-
6
Provide the germinating seeds with a constant temperature of 60 degrees. If you cannot maintain the required temperature, place the tray on a plant-heating pad set to 60 degrees.
-
7
Remove the plastic from the top of the peat pots once the seeds sprout. Allow the soil to dry out in between watering, as the seedling grows.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Transplant the Joshua tree seedling outdoors in the early spring, after the final winter thaw. The Joshua tree seedling will require well-drained soil with a pH between 7 and 8.5.
Do not place the seeds in cold storage before planting. Stratification is not necessary for Joshua trees.
