The Joshua tree, native to the Mojave Desert, is known for its unique and almost alien-look. It’s got a fibrous trunk that rises straight up and branches out into what looks like smaller trunks with spiky brushes at its tips.

Joshua trees aren’t actually trees — they’re succulents, a type of plant that stores water. In their dry ecosystems, however, they are considered trees of the desert. The Joshua tree is an important part of the Mojave Desert ecosystem, providing habitat for numerous birds, mammals, insects, and lizards. Joshua tree forests tell a story of survival, resilience, and beauty borne through perseverance.

The Joshua tree, which grows in fiercely adverse conditions, was seen by the Irish rock band U2 as a symbol of faith and hope amidst the dry and barren desert.