Taro is generally Colocasia esculenta which has 100's of forms. Common names: Giant Elephant Ear, Elephant Ear, Black Magic, Taro, Wild Taro, Dasheen, Dachine, Black Taro, Dalo, Eddo, Eddoe, Edda, Eddy Root, Green Taro,
Coco Yam, Kalo, Callaloo, Poi, Katchu, Potato of the Tropics, and in Ecuador: Papachina. The common name depends on the culture.

Malanga is normally Xanthosoma.sagittifolium (L.) Schott, common names Arrowleaf "Elephant Ear", Malanga, Yautia, Tannia, Mangarás, New Cocoyam, Tajer, Tanier, Taioba, Chou Caribe, Cascamote and many other common names depending on the country.

All should grow from the tuber you can buy in groceries.

Yucca is not an aroid.

Here is a link that might be useful: Colocasia esculenta

Old thread resurrection: exoticrainforest thanks for so many names to watch out for. Elephant ear and arrowleaf are both showy landscape plants. Nice to know about the colocasia and xanthosoma distinction.

I noticed the OP was asking about YUCA, not YUCCA. Yuca, otherwise known as cassava or Manihot esculenta. I don't think this one will grow from the store, but if there's a way to remove the parafin without damaging the root? Also, don't producers apply a sprout inhibiting chemical? I bet they do on the two abovementioned too....

Just wish that Steve could be resurrected as easily as this thread was.

Steve Lucas(exoticrainforest) passed away in january of 2011.

He is sorely missed.

Oh wow. His spirit lives on in ways like this? I am so grateful to find sharing natured plant people online when I can't find them in my own neighborhood! Cheers and happy new year. I am now focused on cultivating Xanthosoma sagitifolium for my dinner table by sprouting and growing a store bought root to compare to the wild ones in my yard. I have two Manihot esculentas in the plant hospital, resurrected them from spider mite infestation where I bought them. So, maybe some day I will grow some of my own yuca for dinner.