Cassava Tapioca plant

The cassava tapioca plant (Manihot esculenta), also known as tapioca or yuca, is a perennial shrub native to South America. It’s widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions for its starchy tuberous roots, an important food source and the basis for products like tapioca and cassava flour.

Cassava plants can grow between 6 to 12 feet (2 to 4 meters) tall. The most significant part of the cassava plant is its large, tuberous roots, which are rich in starch and range from 1 to 3 feet long, covered in a brown, bark-like skin with white or yellow flesh inside. Cassava roots are boiled, fried, or ground into flour or tapioca.

Cassava prefers full sun but can also tolerate partial shade. It requires moderate watering, but overwatering or waterlogging can damage the roots.

Images taken on 02.03.2026