Flower profile

Eastern Joshua tree

Yucca jaegeriana

Eastern Joshua tree (Yucca jaegeriana) is a flowering plant in the Asparagaceae family, blooming mostly March–April across the U.S.

Eastern Joshua tree is a flowering plant. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–April.

–states where USDA records it

2Bloomipedia state lists include it

10,990U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Arizona, Nevada

Quick look

Yucca brevifolia, commonly known as the Joshua tree, yucca palm, tree yucca, or palm tree yucca, is a plant species belonging to the genus Yucca.
From Wikipedia's article Yucca brevifolia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Asparagaceae family. ^iNaturalist
NatureServe lists it as native to Nevada and Arizona. ^NatureServe
In Nevada, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in February–April. ^iNaturalist
In Arizona, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in February–April. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 7,017 research-grade sightings of it in Nevada, ranking #2 among the 132 flowers on our Nevada list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,550 research-grade sightings of it in Arizona, ranking #58 among the 132 flowers on our Arizona list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (575 records)

Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Nevada	Native	February–April	7,017
Arizona	Native	February–April	1,550

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed Not listed under the Endangered Species Act. USFWS ECOS does track it with the label “Not Listed,” which is informal and gives no legal protection. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G3 Vulnerable worldwide. ^NatureServe
Nevada: Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Nevada. ^{NAC 527.010}
Arizona: Not listed Not on Arizona Native Plant Law protected plants (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-3 Art. 11, App. A, eff. Feb. 2, 2025). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Arizona. ^{AAC R3-3 App. A}
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: UT (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Nevada and S3 in Arizona. ^NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant)) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Yucca” (Yucca spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Dogs, cats: Vomiting; Horses: liver disease… ^ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS has no state-by-state distribution for this name, so we can't map it yet.

Names, range and relatives

Other Yucca on Bloomipedia (10): Yuccas, Mojave yucca, Soaptree yucca, Western joshua tree, Banana yucca, Great Plains yucca, Twisted-leaf yucca, Common yucca, Torrey's yucca, Dwarf yucca.

More from the Asparagaceae family (34 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Solomon's plume (false Solomon's seal), Canada mayflower, Blue dicks, Common star-of-Bethlehem, Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley, Chaparral yucca, Wavy-leafed soap plant, Ithuriel's spear.

Eastern Joshua tree and Western joshua tree are covered by the same Wikipedia article. They are listed separately because iNaturalist treats them as different taxa (Yucca jaegeriana and Yucca brevifolia).