Sad Philo
The great freeze of 2025 has ended and you are surveying the damage. Your first temptation is to run outside and start cutting back those pathetic looking shrubs and plants. No, No, No. Our last frost date is March 15th. You do not wish to expose any new growth to freezing temps and the deep freeze could possibly happen again. One year, we had a frost on March 14th. Mother Nature does not always pay attention to the calendar. Be patient.
The exception is if you have a plant that has rotting mushy foliage. It is a good idea to remove the mush to avoid any fungal diseases. If the leaves are just a bit brown or hanging down, wait until the temperatures are warmer.
Shell ginger is badly affected by the cold, but it should come back. Cut off the dead foliage in March and when we have some warmth, new shoots should appear. The same thing with Philodendrons. They may lose all of their leaves, but they will come back. My ten foot philodendron was down on the ground, but this has happened before and by June, it was starting to regain its height. Crinum lilies look like shaggy little critters right now. I am waiting to cut them back until I am sure that we will not have another hard freeze.
Shrubs like Plumbago really should not be planted in our zone. They bloom profusely and thrive in Florida, but we are pushing the envelope on using them here. Duranta will have its top leaves turn black in the below freezing temperatures. Cut out the black leaves when it is warmer and they will grow back their bright yellow color.
Ferns are problematic. Boston ferns will die back possibly to come back in late spring, but they take a while. Native ferns like Southern shield and autumn fern will make it through the cold unscathed. I am afraid that Kimberly Queen ferns, native to Australian, will not come back, but will need to be replaced I they are an integral part of your landscape.
I love Salvias but It will be a matter of wait and see. Many are not hardy perennials and are native to warmer climates. Strangely enough Geraniums (they are really Pelargoniums) sailed right through and are still blooming through the ice and snow. A native of South Africa, you would expect them to succumb. Snapdragons, pansies, and dianthus also are still blooming as if nothing happened.
In our climate we have some hardy annuals that will typically survive a normal winter. This last cold snap was not kind to them. Pentas and Angelonia died totally to the ground and there is no emerging growth. Blue daze flower (Evolvulus) is interesting in that some of mine are already showing new growth, but others look to be dead. Again – I will wait and see.
Roses can be cut way back on Valentines Day. Mine are still blooming, but they need to be trimmed in order produce fresh growth and spring blooms. You can also feed roses now.
The most important advice that I can give you is to be patient. Do not sound taps or give a plant Last Rites and dig it up until the end of April or beginning of May. Our plants are more resilient than we think. And I am beginning to think that they are more resilient than I am.
