Yes, phloem can grow back, particularly after damage like bark girdling.
After an event such as bark girdling, where the phloem is disrupted, plants have the ability to regenerate new phloem and cambium. This regrowth primarily originates from differentiating xylem cells. These cells regain the ability to divide and differentiate, essentially rebuilding the secondary vascular tissue pattern. This regeneration process can occur relatively quickly, sometimes within a month. The ability of these xylem cells to transform is linked to epigenetic regulation and the re-entry of these cells into the cell cycle, enabling them to contribute to the repair process.
