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

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

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2026

On Camino Escalante, Guthrie’s squat, orange brick house is set back from the road behind a lawn planted with prickly pear, agave, cholla and yucca.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

They ask for plantain, yucca or sugar cane.

From BBC • Oct. 25, 2025

Joshua trees — two distinct species that are actually varieties of yucca — are slow-growing plants that have a hard time repopulating areas.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2024

Make four bundles tie them with yucca spruce mixed with charcoal from burned weeds snakeweed and gramma grass and rock sage.

From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko