Which California national park is named for the distinctive Joshua tree forests within it?

Joshua Tree National Park is the California national park named for the distinctive Joshua tree forests within it.

The park lies in southeastern California, where the higher Mojave Desert meets the lower Colorado Desert. Its namesake plant is the Joshua tree, Yucca brevifolia, a tree-like yucca adapted to dry conditions. The park was established as Joshua Tree National Monument in 1936 and became a national park in 1994.

Joshua trees are not true trees in the usual botanical sense; they are members of the asparagus family, Asparagaceae. Their branching forms and spiky leaves are especially associated with the Mojave Desert portion of the park. The park also contains rugged rock formations, fan-palm oases and extensive desert habitats.

A common mix-up is confusing Joshua Tree National Park with nearby desert parks such as Death Valley National Park. Death Valley is much larger and is named for its valley, while Joshua Tree takes its name directly from its characteristic plant.