What do you think?

This eucalyptus, Cladocalyx 'Nana' was planted over 12 years ago. I am guessing it is about 30', the house is a 2 story and this tree is a bit taller. This winter we had an unprecedented and extended freeze which did significant damage to a lot of plants and especially this tree. All the older branches on the lower half of the tree have been falling off and new growth is sprouting as they fall. Once before it lost it's leaves to the cold but it has never lost branches.

What do you think? Should I top it and hope it makes it or should I just take the whole thing down. It is unlikely we'll have another winter like the last, we rarely have temps in the 30's much less below but I am cognizant of the fact that the tree is weakened and unlikely to put out enough growth to sustain it for long.

I know it looks terrible now but it was such a magnificent tree before and I am more focused on it's health rather than the looks.

I certainly know nothing about that species, but I think I understand your question.

Any part of the tree that is not putting on new growth is likely not alive, or won't be in the future. You might as well cut off all the dead parts down to several inches (to a foot or so) above where the new sprouts are emerging. You can always cut off more dead later.

Of course, removing dead wood doesn't significantly contribute to health or recovery, but at least dead pieces won't fall on or break any of the new growth below.

My Mom had a eucalyptus, in Bellingham Washington. Most years it survived. Occasionally it was killed to the ground, but sprouted up again and just started over. I don't know what species it was. the new growth was always super vigorous. She liked the leaves for flower arrangements.

Interesting, it looks typically like a Eucalypt that's been through fire. Which is a normal occurence, but the effects on yours have been brought about by extreme cold, which is not normal for it. After a fire numerous epicormic shoots grow out. These are normally held dormant just below the bark by plant hormones. If leaves are burned off (or eaten off) the hormones are no longer produced and the epicormic shoots become active. After a severe fire most of the leaves and small branches are gone so the new growth is very dense. These however become thinned out by competition and eventually the tree returns to a more normal shape. Until the next fire, that is. Fires tend to be of relatively short duration, the intense heat of the actual burning passes quickly. The heat doesn't get much of a chance to penetrate the tissue too deeply. Your freezes would act reasonably similarly, although the duration would probably be a lot longer. The critical issue for survival would be the duration.

Thank you, the hormones below the bark comment makes sense when you look at how it is coming back. The dead part in the picture is about 20' up and the trunk is a good 8" in diameter there, I'd have to use a tree service with a bucket truck to take that part down which is not inexpensive. Perhaps I'll hold off just a bit longer on chopping off the top. We had four consequent days in the 20's this year. It about did me in too.

Good to know they come back from the ground.