Cordyline trunk damage

First, thank you to all who gave suggestions on what to mix in with
California natives. My favorite nursery has a nice selection of
Lavenders, Salvias, and a few of the other plants suggested. I am
particularly enamored of the deep blue Salvia cultivars I've found
there.

Now, for the main purpose of this post:

I posted a couple of months ago asking if Cordyline australis can
survive with an entire ring of "bark" gone from the trunk. I had no
responses, so perhaps some pictures can help you see what I'm talking
about. I first noticed damage sometime after the big freeze in
January. I noticed that the bark was cracked and splayed out, and
investigating it, it came off easily, revealing the "wood" underneath.
It was moist and slick, although not slimy. Earwigs had taken up
residence. I didn't see holes in the trunk (and still do not), but the
"wood" is brownish. It peeled up the trunk about a foot the entire way
around. Here are some pictures:

First, the leafy crown of the plant.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/229/497531681_8aaca0b3ed.jpg?v=1179188326

It's in flower right now, and attempting to branch. It's very
interesting that to me, the flowers smell exactly like those of my
Jasminum polyanthum. I don't see obvious signs of decline, although
the crown is a bit thinner (but that may be because it's not producing
leaves, but flowers). There are two very solid bundles of leaves in
and among the older leaves and inflorescence.

Next, the lower portion of the trunk. At the bottom you can see the
top of the root crown. It's not sitting below its original pot level
(it's actually on a bit of a mound), as you can see root stubs.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/216/497531675_2369a7ecef.jpg?v=1179188346

Finally the portion where the "bark" stopped peeling. The bark is
secure at that point and further up.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/196/497531671_de280fefc5.jpg?v=0

Now, I'm pretty sure this isn't cold damage, because a double trunk
specime that's not too much younger has not had this issue, and it's
further out in the open than the one in question. It doesn't sit in
water in winter, and I never amended the soil, so it's in pure sand. I
don't see evidence of gophers nearby, and I know we don't have
squirrels.

So, does anyone know if this plant will keep growing with this damage?
I don't want to jump the gun and cut it down before I know. Of course,
if the trunk dies, I'll cut it down, but as of right now, I don't see
any real decline with it.

If I do end up having to cut it down, will it resprout from the roots,
or do these plants need a bit of trunk without bark damage to
resprout?


Thank you!

Barry
Marina, CA
USDA zone 9A
Sunset Zone 16
Sittin on top of sand dunes.
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