What you describe, klacy, seems to be a hydrangea planted out of zone. Under that scenario, the stems dry out during winter and the plant growth always originates from the crown or the bottom. The stems never leaf out because they cannot handle the cold winter temperatures and drying winds. Your zones in NW Arkansas probably are around a Zone 6 location so try hydrangeas good for that type of zone. H. macrophylla Endless Summer and Forever & Ever Series; H. arborescens Annabelle and H. paniculatas, for example.