The family has a wide, but scattered, distribution throughout the tropics and temperate zones; for example, Xanthorrhoea is endemic to Australia, while the Aloes are unique to Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula.

Many of the family's genera are cultivated as ornamentals, with some being highly collectible and sought-after, such as Haworthia and Gasteria, as well as their intergeneric hybrids with Aloe (x Gasteraloe, x Gastorthia, x Haworthaloe, etc.

Two species of Aloe, A. vera and A. maculata, are grown for their leaf sap, which contains digestive enzymes, and has medicinal and cosmetic applications.

The flowers (the inflorescence) are typically borne on a leafless stalk (scape) which arises from a basal rosette of leaves.

Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that the three are closely related,[1][6] although Rudall considered that the combination into a single clade was not supported by morphological analysis.

[10] Asphodelus Asphodeline Eremurus Trachyandra Kniphofia Bulbinella Bulbine Jodrellia Aloidendron Kumara Haworthia Aloiampelos Aloe Astroloba Aristaloe Gonialoe Tulista Haworthiopsis Gasteria Xanthorrhoea Simethis Hemerocallis Tricoryne Corynotheca Caesia Arnocrinum Hensmania Stawellia Johnsonia Eccremis Pasithea Phormium Geitonoplesium Agrostocrinum Stypandra Rhuacophila Dianella Thelionema Herpolirion The family now called Asphodelaceae has had a complex history; its circumscription and placement in an order have varied widely.

[11][12] Cronquist had difficulty classifying the less obviously delineated lilioid monocots; consequently, he placed taxa from both the modern orders Asparagales and Liliales into a single family Liliaceae.

The changes were a consequence of improvement in molecular and morphological analysis and also a reflection of the increased emphasis on placing families within an appropriate order.

[2] The genera listed below are from the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families,[16] with the division into subfamilies based on APWeb as of December 2010[update].