Is this Ceonothus dead?!!

[Fortunatepiggy]

This is normally a blue flowering ceonothus but I can't remember when it flowers. It looks dead to me but would welcome advice

Thanks

[MattBerrysHair]

Very dead. It has no leaves!

[Trethew]

Yes

[BigGreenOlives]

They don't live very long

[Fortunatepiggy]

I'm sure it used to flower every year so don't know what's happened!

Thanks

[Fortunatepiggy]

What can I replace it with that will grow tall look good and is unlikely to be killed easily by a neglectful gardener

[ilivebythesea]

Buddleia?

I've recently moved house and there was a neglected and unruly one of these in the garden. Chopped it down to almost ground level in April and it's sprung up to 6 footish now. Lovely, scented deep purple flowers on it that the butterflies and bees love.

Best of all, I know I can hack it back down next spring and it'll still grow back!

[MrsBertBibby]

What's the space like ? Does it get lots of sun? I'm guessing it's reasonably sheltered if a ceanothus used to thrive there?

[OllyBJolly]

I was quite shocked when mine died suddenly. One year covered in blooms and the next all withered and brown. Didn't know they had a life expectancy of 7 years.

I'd plan another Ceanothus. They are beautiful.

[MrsBertBibby]

They are. I am trying to engineer a ceanothus spot in my garden.