阿福花亚科（Asphodeloideae）也被称为独尾草亚科，为天门冬目黄脂木科下一亚科。共有15属约785种，主要分布在非洲、地中海沿岸和中亚地区，只有凤尾百合属（或称“鸡尾兰属”）是原产于新西兰的，本科植物多为肉质植物，大多数种类生长在南非。

以前的分类法将本科的大部分属分在百合科内，1998年根据基因亲缘关系分类的APG 分类法将其单独列为一个科，属于天门冬目，2003年经过修订的APG II 分类法将其和刺叶树科（现黄脂木科）以及萱草科列为可以选择合并的科，尤其和刺叶树科的亲缘关系较近。

Asphodeloideae is a subfamily of the monocot family Xanthorrhoeaceae in the order Asparagales. It has previously been treated as a separate family, Asphodelaceae. The family Asphodelaceae has now been proposed to be a nomen conservandum, and the proposal has been recommended for ratification at the next IAPT Congress in 2017. In that case, Asphodelaceae will have priority over Xanthorrhoeaceae. This is reflected in the APG IV family lists.