i think you may be talking about Ceanothus - and if that's the case, join the club! I reckon I've lost two of mine. One is absolutely dead and will have to be dug out and replaced, the other has a few green leaves left, so I shall wait until the end of April or even May, and cut it back to healthy growth.

Check yours and see if there's any sign of life before you remove them. They don't regenerate from hard pruning.

Some of mine have dead branches on. But as Spitzh says they don't respond to hard pruning. Even if you trim off the dead bits it's usually the beginning of the end and they gradually go downhill over the next couple of years. Better buy a new one and plant it ready for when the old ones are dead!

Just cashing in here .... Spritz/Volunteer: I need to buy a ceanothus as I think mine are dead too - do you know the name of the variety that flowers in the Spring, has small dark green leaves and really vibrant, dark blue, tight flowers. Thank you

Concha???

...or Puget Blue.

Spritz/Volunteer - thank you. I've done a bit of research with your suggestions and still not sure which is the one I want. Its a very deep blue one I like which you sometimes see growing quite flat against a fence or wall - maybe I could get both :-)

Tsk, tsk! spending money again, Dawn? lol.

Oh Spritz, its never ending is it. A lottery win would be nice, so many plants on the old wishlist.

In my case, as for many other people, it's a case of replacing lots of casualties - I found yet another today. :-(

Oh dear Spritz, such a shame, isnt it. I fear I've lost a few too but I'll give them a chance although I hate to see them sitting in the garden looking dead.

Me too. :-(