my bird of paradise froze can I just cut it back and it come back or should I just leave it alone.?

Question

I live in Ca. zone 9. 50 miles north of San Francisco.

Answer 1

Sunset Western Garden Book lists several varieties of Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia sp). For C. pulcherrima ('Red Bird of Paradise', 'Pride of Barbados') they say 'Plants freeze to ground...but rebound in the Spring. In milder climates you can cut to the ground in early Spring to make more compact mound.' Although the varieties have somewhat different tolerance for cold I think you can use this as a guideline, given their growth patterns in general.

If obviously rotting, I would cut those parts off. If just withered and blackened, I would leave until danger of frost is past.

Answer 2

Bummer. It is probably nasty and juicy. If you leave it a few weeks, it may be less gross to cut back. And if you cut it back now, there is even less protection for the remaining roots if it freezes again. But the good news is that lots of plants come back after freezing if the roots are undamaged.

Answer 3

I live in Tennessee and have had a Bird of Par. in my garden for 5 years. I simply bury it in leaves late in the fall and it grows wonderfully every spring. Every greenhouse around tells me you cant grow them outside in Tn. Gee, guess thier wrong.

Answer 4

You should leave it alone because it should melt soon...and it depends where you live