By Tonirhona
United Kingdom 
A cordaline planted in the ground some 5 years ago from being in a pot for 7 years has grown into a tree but now appears to be dying off. It has split from one stem/trunk into 3 branches and these 3 appear to be splitting again. It has also started sprouting from low down in on the trunk. So far we have been removing the new sprouts but have seen quite a few locally that suddenly appear to be doing the same and dying.
Any ideas?
16 Jun, 2011
Answers
Oh, T...don't remove the new sprouts! Each of them is going to produce a new crown! Your plant's trunk has already split to produce multi crowns....how amazing is that ? LOL??
17 Jun, 2011
The cold winter has killed the growth above ground, but your cordyline is trying to regrow from lower down. That's what the new sprouts are. I suggest you cut off the dead trunks just above where it is sprouting & at an angle to shed rain. It will be able to regenerate, but not if you keep on cutting off its attempts at new growth.
16 Jun, 2011