Severe freezes struck a hard blow to some area landscapes earlier this month. Damage to tropical plants was fairly extensive, and now it is about what to do next.
At this point, it is time to assess the effects of the freezes.
Damage almost always occurs to plants that are covered when temperatures reach the low 20s or teens. For plants growing in the ground, cold protection is done to preserve the plant’s life — not to bring it through winter without harm.
To maximize protection, make sure the cover extends all the way to the ground and is sealed. Multiple layers provide better protection than a single layer.
For best results, provide heat under the cover when temperatures reach the low 20s or teens. This is easily done by generously draping small, incandescent outdoor Christmas lights under the cover.
After the freeze, a damaged plant’s living parts can recover during the summer. So the damage does not mean the covers were a waste of time.
And be sure to protect even the damaged tropicals should we have additional freezes. 
The question I get most often after freezes is: “Is my plant still alive, and will it recover?” This is a hard question to answer for individual plants. There are way too many variables.
You’ll have to evaluate the plant’s health for yourself. I would say to be optimistic for plants growing in the ground, particularly if you were able to provide some protection.