黄脂木科又称刺叶树科，原只包括1属—刺叶树属（Xanthorrhoea）约66种，都是生长在澳大利亚的特有种植物。

1981年的克朗奎斯特分类法将其列入百合目，1998年根据基因亲缘关系分类的APG 分类法认为应该分入新设立的天门冬目，2003年经过修订的APG II 分类法将其和萱草科、独尾草科列为可以选择性合并的科。2009年APGIII分类法将萱草科、独尾草科并入本科。

以前有的分类法从根据形态将多须草科列入本科，但实际两者并不属于同类植物。

Xanthorrhoeaceae is a family of flowering plants in the order Asparagales. Such a family has been recognized by most taxonomists, but the circumscription of the family has varied widely.

As defined by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group in 2009 (the APG III system), the family consists of three subfamilies: Asphodeloideae, Hemerocallidoideae and Xanthorrhoeoideae. Earlier these three had been treated as separate families, with the Xanthorrhoeaceae sensu stricto consisting only of the genus Xanthorrhoea. 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.