Cordyline Calamity

If they are a reasonable size and growing in the ground Cordylines usually shoot from lower down if the growing point gets damaged, even if the whole stem dies an established one will recover from the base.
Pot grown ones are more likely to be killed if the whole pot freezes.

 

Mine suffered badly in the winter of 2010 but the existing trunk did survive and then it pushed up new stems from ground level as well. Even if the growing tip is fatally damaged, I think it will sprout from the trunk or the base.

 

Looks like cordylines are taking a right beating, even the "hardy" green ones! I've all but given up on my two (both young, and in planters). Totally gone to mush.

I'm planning other things for my planters now but if I ever went down the cordyline route again I think I'd have to wrap them to get them through the winter.

 

Cordylines will get through probably 9 out of 10 winters in most parts of the UK, it's just when that 10th one comes along you have to be ready to move potted plants under cover or wrap the ones growing in the ground, if possible.
It's like that with all borderline hardy plants.

 

Well I'll just see how it goes. Seems like I will need two new cordies. There will be a rush on them at the GC this spring!