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

Very dead. It has no leaves!

Yes

They don't live very long

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

Thanks

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

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!

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?

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.

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