Garden yucca type thing - damaged beyond hope?

[Caro]

We were away for Christmas and New Year, and didn't foresee the harsh weather. Now that I finally get to see my garden (would you believe, today is the first time I've been home in daylight since before Christmas!) I can see the damage.

Think my wee olive tree has probably had it , but i'm not sure about this yucca type thing. The top has all collapsed down. Should i be doing anything for/to it?



Many thanks

[Flummery]

Praying?
I have only grown one yucca type thing which was as hard as nails. If it doesn't offend you, you could leave it and see, but usually a collapse means the top bit at least, has had it. Hope for the best!

[Jeanied]

Is it still in its pot, Caro? If so it may be dry: I think some Yuccas can stand the cold, but not wet. As Flum says, wait and see - it may shoot from the base again.

[Caro]

Thanks,

I'll leave it be and see what happens. If it starts to rot, I'll see what I can cut off/out. It's actually in the ground, and has happily survived several Scottish winters. I'm not sure how long it's been there as our predecessors planted it, but we've been here 5 years, so it's probably a few longer than that.

Fingers crossed!

[BUFFS]

yuccas may die at the top but in the spring you will find offshoots coming from below ground,if the main trunk(above ground)is past it dont be afraid to chop it down as there will usually more than one offshoot(had mine since the 70s and have been hit by the cold/ice before and when spring comes they always regrow).they must be one of the toughest plants in your garden..good luck with it..

[zazen999]

I tried everything to get rid of the ones in my last garden; it was a rental but I hated them - all in the wrong place and so spiky. Even hacking them to death they would still reshoot in the spring.

[sarraceniac]

Caro, leave your olive as well. They are actually very hardy. I've written mine off twice but it bounces back, but not usually until high summer.

[Caro]

Caro, leave your olive as well. They are actually very hardy. I've written mine off twice but it bounces back, but not usually until high summer.

That's great news, I'd love to think it might come back. I had a good look at it and it looks a bit unhappy, but not totally gone yet so I'll leave it be and see how it does.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

[seasprout]

It looks like it was a Cordyline, the leaves are greener and narrower than Yucca. It looks like the wet which have frozen has got into the centre.

Cordylines can not take the recent low temps, perhaps to minus 2-3, but not to the extremes we had in this country recently.

[FionaH]

I was just trying to remember the name of the rather sick spikey plant in my garden, its a cordyline! Thanks seasprout. Thats a gonna then.

[Caro]

I've a couple of more detailed photos of this cordyline (?). If it is a cordyline, does that mean it's had it? Should I chop it down, and if so, how far down? It's very slow growing, and we quite liked the height. Can I chop back to a healthy part of the stem below the leaves, or will that see it off for sure? Should I try that with one of the stems?

Many thanks for any help.

[piskieinboots]

Cordylines has taken a real bashing with this hard winter - I have lost mine as have many of my pals

[sarraceniac]

Yup. It's a cordy. Those particular trunks will almost certainly not recover. I have lost 5 - yes five - of them this winter, 2 green, 2 red and 1 variegated. All just getting nice and large. I am just trimming off the dead leaves and waiting. If the root on any of them are OK then they should kick out a new trunk or two but I won't know maybe until summer 2012. If they should kick in again this summer I will be one happy bunny. As you say, they are slow growing (and slow recovering) but gardening teaches patience.

[tweety]

Hi Caro,

mine looks a bit dead as well... but I have decided to wait and see if it looks alive in a few weeks (month?) time.
but if it starts to freeze and snow again I doubt the cordy will like it...