Sound impossible? Coldest winter I can remember. We had 6 degrees here in So. Cal. Four evergreen pepper tree's planted 2 years ago, dead in my front yard, fried from the cold. Anybody know if there is such a thing as a fast growing medium large canopy evergreen tree that can survive 0-10 degrees? (Clay soil)
Surprised you've lost pepper trees at 6°, they should be able to take an occasional light frost. Or is that 6° below freezing you had?
6 degrees above. I guess their dead, leaves burnt brown and crispy and or have fallen off. Also fried brown to the ground all geraniums and Euryop's. We live in a low lying area, backed up against a creek. Plants survived 6 years since we moved into new house, now most plants look like boiling water poured over them. Coldest winter I can ever remember after decades in So.Cal. Must be global cooling.
You may find that the thicker shoots and branches are still alive, and might sprout in the spring, even though the leaves have been killed. Otherwise, go for local native species, they will be able to cope with anything you get (you may have had your coldest in memory, but it certainly won't be the coldest in the last 5,000 years!). If you're in the San Diego area, try Pinus torreyana (Torrey Pine).
