By Jal
United Kingdom 
I inherited a garden with a big purple flowering broom type bush which this year following the cold winter looks dead. I would like to know its identity and what has happened. It normally produces bright purple flowers in June. My garden is located in West London UK
3 Jun, 2011
Answers
Could he be thinking of Ceanothus? julien.
3 Jun, 2011
Most likely, Julien, but as for which one - the description of 'purple' flowers is confusing - they're blue, of course, either light or dark, but then colour perception differs from person to person... I'm wondering about Gloire de Versailles or similar rather than the May flowering evergreen version...
3 Jun, 2011
The flowers of Gloire de Versailles are pale blue, not remotely purple.
Chamaecytisus purpureus, from southern Europe, is a broom-type shrub with purple flowers so maybe that is what we are being asked about
3 Jun, 2011
I thought that flowered in May? Does here anyway...
3 Jun, 2011
Or notospartium carmichaeliae? A not-so-hardy New Zealand large shrub
4 Jun, 2011
What shape are the flowers? trumpets? daisies? clusters? drooping racemes? large flowerheads comprised of tiny flowers? Was the plant evergreen or deciduous?
3 Jun, 2011