Ironwood
Ironwood is one of the most distinctive trees of the Colorado Desert. Within Joshua Tree National Park, the frost-sensitive ironwood, Olneya tesota, grows only on this bajada. Here it finds the combination of warmth, sun, and moisture needed to meet its specialized requirements. This south-facing slope warms earlier and remains more favorable to a plant that cannot tolerate colder desert conditions.
Ironwood can grow into a large and sturdy tree, and its presence shapes the surrounding desert community. Beneath its branches, shade-loving plants are able to survive in conditions that would otherwise be too harsh. The tree also provides shelter for many desert animals, offering cover from heat and predators. In this way, ironwood is more than a single species on the bajada. It serves as an important protector and support for other forms of life in this Colorado Desert environment.
Within Joshua Tree National Park, the frost-sensitive ironwood (Olneya tesota), a Sonoran Desert plant, is found soley on this bajada. Only here does it find enough warmth and moisture to meet its specialized needs. The ironwood, which can grow quite large, provides shelter for many shade-loving plants and animals.
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