Perhaps the 50 year old plants were getting towards the end of their lifespan anyway, then hot dry summer (which normally wouldn't bother established cordylines) followed by wet autumn then deep cold for a few weeks did for them.
There have been numerous threads re Cordylines all over the UK this year @gazcall10rmsqamtx - all with the same problems. Some might recover many won't. A coastal location suits them, hence the common names of Torbay palm etc, and that applies up here too, but that's because the whole set up is different in a coastal location. East and west have completely different climates too. Our climate where I am has changed in the last few years -quite noticeably. I'm afraid it's a combination of factors that's causing the many problems that people have had, and not just with cordylines. Cold dry soil doesn't cause the same problems as wet, freezing soil. It never has. Air temps are also very different from soil temps which many people forget about.
As @JennyJ describes above- the age of many trees is a factor too, so some will just be too far gone to recover. Plants die, and get replaced, whether in small domestic gardens or on huge estates, whether they're in in Southend, or Sutherland. That's how it is. If you garden, you have to accept that there are some things you simply can't control.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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https://horticulture.co.uk/cordyline/ says
Cordyline australis trees in the wild have lived up to several hundred years.
In very good conditions a horticultural plant can live to 50 yearsA coastal location suits them, hence the common names of Torbay palm etc, and that applies up here too, but that's because the whole set up is different in a coastal location. East and west have completely different climates too. Our climate where I am has changed in the last few years -quite noticeably.
I'm afraid it's a combination of factors that's causing the many problems that people have had, and not just with cordylines. Cold dry soil doesn't cause the same problems as wet, freezing soil. It never has. Air temps are also very different from soil temps which many people forget about.
As @JennyJ describes above- the age of many trees is a factor too, so some will just be too far gone to recover.
Plants die, and get replaced, whether in small domestic gardens or on huge estates, whether they're in in Southend, or Sutherland. That's how it is.
If you garden, you have to accept that there are some things you simply can't control.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...