Elephant Ears & Bird of Paradise After a Florida Freeze: Will They Return?

Tropicals in Northwest Florida: Resilience After Cold

In the Florida Panhandle (Zone 8b/9a), the ground rarely freezes deeply. Elephant ears (Colocasia/Alocasia) and white bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai) often die back to the ground but resprout from surviving roots/rhizomes when soil warms.

What to Do Now

• Elephant ears: Leave the 4-inch dead stalks until spring—they mark the spot and protect the crown. Green protrusions mean life. Remove dead tissue in March.
• Bird of paradise: Trim off brown, mushy leaves to prevent rot. The trunk may look dead but often resprouts from the base.

Timeline & Flowering

• New growth appears when soil reaches ~65°F (usually March–April).
• Bird of paradise from divisions/cuttings: 3–5 years to flower. Seed-grown: 5–7+ years.

Extra Insurance

Mulch crowns with 4–6 inches of pine straw in late fall. For bird of paradise, a frost cloth on the coldest nights helps preserve the growing point.