The winter of 2007/08 was fairly mild in the NYC metro area (your zone suggests this is your locale). The most common of the cycad, Cycas revoluta is also among the most cold hardy--though others might also have survived the previous winter. P.S. I've had cycads return to perfection without ANY leaves!

Thanks for the quick reply. I kind of thought it was a pretty mild winter, because all of my bananas, (Musa basjoo, and Musella lasiocarpa) pretty lightly protected made it, whether in pots or in the ground. A fig, completely unprotected, also thrived, and produced numerous figs, but all too late to ripen in time.
Several years ago, I planted some Callas, figuring I'd dig them up in the fall, like gladiolas, but didn't get around to it. They have returned for about 8 years now.
(I am in Staten Island, NY, the southernmost county in New York State)

I know for sure that even a sago"palm" can survive 20F with no leaf damage,I sure if these were buried under leaves that were piled high enough they could probably make it in at least zone 6.

John,

Something like that happened to me last year.Those Cycas revoluta are hardy. But it was a mild winter in the NYC area. (I'm from Brooklyn, NY the "second" southernmost section in New York State)

Yucca's in Brooklyn spring 2007

This Trachycarpus has been in the ground for three years now (Nov, 2008)

Wow, Shawn, those pictures are really beautiful.