Yucca glauca

[RickR]

The only advice I have ever heard regarding root physiology for cuttings is a size consideration.  I have never heard it mentioned, for example, that the actual taproot might be better for cuttings than the laterals, given equal girth.  Purely based on this, it would seem that latteral root cutting propagation of at least this species of yucca would be successful.

I would have thought that someone would have tried it by now, though.
  Maybe someone out there has...?

[Michael Young]

I think excavating a plant can be done without lasting damage. I've certainly done so with another species of yucca--Y. baccata, I think--and it responded as John suggested: I now have two very large specimens in separate parts of the garden.

[RickR]

By the way, Michael, that is a drop-dead gorgeous avatar photo.  I don't want to veer from the Yucca topic too much, but what is it?

[Michael Young]

It is Castilleja scabrida, taken on 28 April last year in a canyon that is tributary to the Escalante River between Boulder and Escalante, Utah. I've not (yet!) attempted to grow it, because I lack hectares of sandstone.