cordyline

[The Tiggster]

My Dad's cordyline has been affected by the recent frost (we live in Scotland). It has gone from purple to green & the spikes are quite floppy now.

I live in same town with roughly the same garden aspect & mine is ok.

Any idea what could be wrong & if it'll recover? It was ok last year over the winter being left in the garden.

Many thanks in advance

[logman]

I've enjoyed growing cordylines for many years now and find the common green variety much more hardy.

I persevered three years running to get a red one growing in a particular spot, but the frost zapped it every time. my green one a few yards away has grown fast and tall, approx 14ft in 10 years, i used to lag the stem for the first few years but i hope that its now accimitized. I also hope this year the winter of 05/06 is'nt gonna prove me wrong.

[The Tiggster]

Thank you logman, I think such a harsh early frost (it was -7oC) has taken it's toll on my Dad's Cordyline. I think we will leave it where it is until the spring in the vain hope that it recovers, although somehow I doubt it will.

I will try to lag mine to prevent the same fate.

[logman]

Good luck with you Dads cordyline Tiggster. Although i have found, when those leaves flop it usually means curtains, if its a few years old though it may spout some new shoots from the base, like a phoenix from the ashes ! Good luck...