By Billybob71
United Kingdom 
Hi, I have a green leaved cordyline in my front garden which is about 18ft tall and has grown about a foot each year. This year with the severe frosts it has shed its leaves more than usual and the street is strewn with my leaves. But ive noticed that the whole crown has gone brown and mushy, so i went up a ladder today to inspect and feared the worst which was that the whole crown was dead, so have cut it back to the 2 stems that spear off from the main stem. Will the tree form new shoots again this year or is it a goner? Thanks Billybob.
2 Mar, 2011
Answers
Thanks bamboo, Last year in Sept time i noticed that the tree had produced two little buds about 5ft up the tree, but they`ve died off aswell now. It`s funny as there is a cat in the street who use to use the tree as a scratch pole and would climb about 8ft up the tree. lol
3 Mar, 2011
It might regrow lower down either of the trunks, or from the base, it's a wait and see I'm afraid. You may have to wait till end of June before seeing anything, so be patient if you can stand to - if neither of the branches produces leaves at the top, but do produce growth lower down, cut back again to wherever the new growth is.
2 Mar, 2011