Most commercial growers have to start harvest prior to a killing frost. Just handle your rhizomes as you have done in the past or by following previously suggested winter storage solutions that work for you in your area. Kent

Looking up historical lows gives you a pretty good idea, despite climate change. For me its pretty easy, I just remember a few years ago when a bunch of kids were camping on my lawn and the temperature went down to 0C on a May 24th weekend. Another mistake people seem to make is planning for planting out pre-started Dahlias versus when others plant out tubers with eyes. In-ground frost has already past, and if you consider it would likely take 6 weeks for a plant to emerge from the soil, you realize that they aren't likely to be subjected to air-frost prior to mid-june in my zone, later if the tubers went in on May 24 as is customary around here. Cheers, Russ

Welcome to the South. I used to live in zone 9b, St. Bernard Parish. Now I live in north Mississippi, a little colder than your new location. I am not familiar with root beer plant, and not real familiar with banana. But I do know cannas. And I also have some general advice. If the frozen or frostbitten plants get black and mushy, I usually cut them back. Because the tissue gets slimy and can grow bacteria or fungi. If the foliage or canes are *dry* and brown, I generally leave it alone, becoz if you cut it back, it could stimulate new growth (especially in your zone when the weather inevitably goes thru warm spells) which would then suffer freeze damage in the next cold snap. You could cut it back if it really bothers you, but I believe it offers some protection to the tender growth below. Cannas should come back esp. if mulched. You can always remove, any time of year, dry brown leaves or even just trim a ragged leaf like giving a haircut. Generally once the weather if past danger of frost, around March 31 I think in your zone, you can cut back, cut off brown stuff, allow to warm up and fertilize (if you do that) once it's time for active growth. Wish I could say more, I hope that helps you some. Laurie

Just cut off the damaged leaves and wait for warmer weather which will trigger the growth of new leaves. Most likely what you have is Cycas revoluta, which can easily survive temps into the teens. The caudex should be fine. Be patient. New leaves form at the tops of the stems only. When lower leaves are lost, they do not regrow. If you hack off the stems, any new sprouts are unpredictable and it will take a few seasons until they appear normal again. x