There is a classic test to tell if a plant is still alive. Scrape a section of bark near the soil level and see if there is any sign of green. Some shrubs such as hibiscus and hardy fuchsias get foliage as late as June so they may look dead all spring. You may want to wait until mid June to see if your shrub sprouts. If there is still no sign of new growth then consider this a sign that you now have room in your garden for a new plant. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti