I have read that in this instance that people can do two grafts. The native variety being the most hardy and strongest rooting, then a short intermediary piece which can bridge between the native and fruiting varieties. Can anyone assist? Or know someone who can? I have cut down a large native cherry and would like to graft lapins and stella to the sprouts which are sure to come up this spring. "example taken from plum/almond stone fruit grafting" - " Also (and this is where the fun starts) most fruit trees in the Prunus genus are sometimes compatible with each other: almonds, apricots, nectarines, peaches, and plums all are compatible for grafting, but occasionally it's complicated. For example, some plum rootstock is not compatible with peaches or nectarines; and some almonds require an intermediate step before grafting onto some plum rootstocks."

Did you ever get some seeds? I usually have more then I need (although not this year 2008). I have perhaps the largest living Joshua tree in the Victorville area. It is easily 40 ft tall. I am a desert landscape designer and have used Yucca brevifolia many times. When young the plants can be transplanted with little regard to original orientation. As the "trees" get larger transplantation becomes more problematic. Larger plants dug out of the ground usually will not survive due to extensive root damage. Small container grown plants or volunteers can be planted into almost any well drained location with full sun. It doesn't matter how they were facing. Their growth rate is dependent on water. The more water they get the faster they will grow. They will not tolerate water logged and clay type soils. Sandy soils are preferred as well as overhead watering. Seeds germinate better if soaked in water or scarified. I have read of people having specimen plants in England and the Eastern US. I sent some seeds to a gentleman in France last year. Their native range includes not only the Ca Mojave Desert, but parts of AZ, NV and UT.

Do you know where your seed was collected? Joshua tree habitat includes altitudes from 1,500' to 7,200' and winter lows as low as -15F in the northern part of its range, but in the southern part of its range, winter lows are much less severe. It survives out of habitat pretty well in Salt Lake City and Albuquerque, and if planted as a seed grown plant it will even thrive in Vancouver, WA so I think you have a chance. I also know of a small one in Bremerton. Plants dug from the wild are more apt to have problems out of habitat. With seed-grown, containerized plants I think you have a pretty good chance.

Former Denver, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque resident here... I've seen both typical Y. brevifolia var. brevifolia and Y. b. var. jaegeriana in the wild, and they both have colder and warmer ranges. I've used both in landscapes, and to me the main difference is the smaller v. jaegeriana is more sensitive to transplant and slower to establish. Depends where one is located in huge Denver or other western cities and towns, as to which climate zone one is in. Not microclimate, but climate. ABQ is a much different zone or two warmer than Santa Fe, even if one looks for a few exceptions. Santa Fe is milder than Denver (less cold, less hot, less up and down). Boise might compare to Santa Fe, but hotter and drier summers, wetter winters. Consider the location on the continent, before using USDA. Then add latitude, growing season, and amounts of 32F, 90F, and other weather. Sunset's system is better for that. This is how Sunset compares with USDA (I might be wrong, and their maps might be) - Denver = Sunset z 2b / USDA 5a-6a (semi-arid, great plains) Santa Fe = z 3a / USDA 5b-6b (semi-arid, intermountain) Boise = z 3b / USDA 6a-7a (arid, intermountain) Abq = z 10 and spots of z 3b / USDA 7a-8a and spots of 6b (arid, intermountain) Joshua Tree, both varieties, are native to Sunset z 3, 10, and 11 in the Mojave Desert - like the Chihuahuan, but drier and the "wet" season switched. In USDA terms, that's the intermountain arid parts of z 6a - 9a. So, the plant source is probably as important a a healthy, rooted Joshua Tree..then planting in well-draining soil, gravel mulch, with other very xeric plants, and not over-watering.