I would prune away all of the dead wood. Can't remember more. My father grew this when I was a kid. I purchased one last year and mine died to the ground last winter. But it, too, is sprouting very nicely from the roots.

George
Tahlequah, OK

hi george, i broke off the dead branches but it is still 6 foot tall with only that growth at the bottom. someone at garden club said to wait another two weeks to see what it is doing. another person said that they don't over winter very well. so it is a waiting game.

Every one that I have ever planted have died, so I can't speak to the longevity of them :). My first impression is that you should cut it back to the base and let it grow back. However, I don't see any problem with waiting a couple of weeks to see if they are really not going to leaf out.

I think after last winter there will be lots of shrubs that will need to be cut back to the bottom. My nandinas and crepe myrtle look like there is lots of dead wood. It doesn't hurt to wait a bit though.

Butterfly bushes should be pruned back to several inches from the ground every spring. They bloom on new wood so pruning will encourage new growth. This should be done every year even if the top growth has not been winter-killed like this year.

I did mine this afternoon!

Linda

that you all for this infiormation. i will cut mine back to 7 inches, and at least it won't look like a skeleton that is trying to scare of people and birds.

my nadinas look ratty too. as well as my chinese fringe, but both are trying to put on some leaves, not much. my spireas look good and of course my holly made it.