Looks like it needs repotting it's probably run out of food/space ...If you tip it out and it looks congested put it in another bigger pot with fresh soil

Yep, agree, needs a bigger pot, especially if its been in the same one for all that time. You may need to pot into a larger size every other year... these are quite large shrubs.

It actually looks like a congested group of seedlings, not a 5 year old shrub. What is the actual history of this pot?

It is a Hibiscus.I repotted it earlier in the year. 3 days after I gave it a good watering it showed some life back into the leaves. Still hoping. Thank you for all your responses.

Poppy