Elephant Tree on the Elephant Trees Trail, a rare trunky tree with small green leaves. Grows natively in the Anza-Borrego Desert and areas of Mexico. Scientists first recorded Elephant Trees at this location in 1937, when there were over a hundred growing along Alma Wash; this is now the only tree visible along the one-mile nature trail. Anza Borrego Desert State Park (Est. May 1948). San Diego County, CA.