Yucca gigantea, commonly called spineless yucca, giant yucca, or soft-tipped yucca, is a perennial shrub in the family Asparagaceae. The genus name Yucca likely derives from the Taíno word yuca (for cassava), while gigantea comes from Latin, meaning “giant,” referring to its large stature. It is native to Mesoamerica, especially Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and southern Mexico.

Historically, Y. gigantea was valued by Indigenous Mesoamerican peoples for both culinary and utilitarian uses. Its large white flowers, known as izote in Central America, have been eaten since pre-Columbian times, often boiled, fried with eggs, or cooked in stews and tamales. The plant’s fibrous leaves and stems were used for cordage, brushes, and weaving materials. In modern times, the flowers remain an important traditional food in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, where flor de izote is considered a national dish component. Additionally, the plant is widely grown ornamentally in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.