yucca

American  

[yuhk-uh] / ˈyʌk ə /

noun

1. any plant belonging to the genus Yucca, of the agave family, native to the warmer regions of America, having pointed, usually rigid, sword-shaped leaves and clusters of white, waxy flowers: the state flower of New Mexico.

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yucca British  

/ ˈjʌkə /

noun

1. any of several plants of the genus Yucca, of tropical and subtropical America, having stiff lancelike leaves and spikes of white flowers: family Agaraceae See also Adam's-needle Spanish bayonet

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Etymology

Origin of yucca

1655–65; < New Latin, apparently < Spanish; perhaps originally identical with yuca yuca

Example Sentences

Hospitals have stopped all but emergency surgeries and farmers have struggled getting yucca and plantains to market.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026

Classic examples include figs and fig wasps and yuccas and yucca moths.

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2026

As the Save the Redwoods League notes, “You can’t find both yucca and coast redwoods in very many parks.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 29, 2025

They ask for plantain, yucca or sugar cane.

From BBC • Oct. 25, 2025

It was a beautiful morning when the yucca buds were opening and the mockingbirds were singing on the hill that my uncle Pedro drove up.

From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya