Question
QUESTION: i live in n. west florida and had 6 beautifull elephant ear plants which got zapped this winter. i did not dig up the tubors and there is about 4 inches of dead stock above the ground with some green protrusions on some of the stocks. should i do anything to them or leave them and will they come back?  same with young white bird of paradise?

ANSWER: Hi Gordie,
Thanx for your question.  I used to live in Ft. Walton Beach many years ago.  I grew a banana plant and ginger in the backyard.  Every winter, they would die back and every spring they would come back.  Because the ground never freezes in NW Florida, the bulb is still alive and your elephant ear will come back in the spring.  I hope this helps.
Tom

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QUESTION: i planted white bird of paradise last summer and again after a rough winter in n.w. florida they are brown and look dead. should i cut them ack to the ground and will they come back & how long untill they flower?

Answer
Hi Gordie,
Thanx for your question.  You can trim off the dead leaves to clean the plant up and yes, I believe it is still alive.  When the ground is sufficiently warm, the plant will come back out.  Usually, a cold snap will kill back the foliage but leave the roots or bulbs alone.  I have had gladiolus and caladiums survive in my Zone 6 yard because the ground didn't freeze (it was a protected area).  A neighbor up the street has some cannas planted against a wall and they come back every year even though they are zone 7/8 plants.  I hope this helps.
Tom