Yucca | Desert Plant, Flowering Shrub, Evergreen Tree | Britannica (original) (raw)

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Also known as: Yucca

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

yucca, (genus Yucca), genus of about 40 species of succulent plants in the agave subfamily of the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), native to southern North America. Most species of yucca are stemless, with a rosette of stiff sword-shaped leaves at the base and clusters of waxy white flowers.

Joshua treeJoshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) in Joshua Tree National Park, California, U.S.

The Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) has a stem more than 10 metres (33 feet) high. Spanish bayonet (Y. aloifolia), Spanish dagger (Y. gloriosa), and Adam’s needle (Y. filamentosa) are commonly cultivated as ornamentals for their unusual appearance and attractive flower clusters.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.