Has this plant killed my bush/tree?

Hi. This bush doesn't seem to be doing anything anymore, not sure what's it called. The plant has spread slowly, and has a blue flower. I think it's Pintrest, just on what I've matched it to on Google. Thinking it's drinking all the water before the tree get's any. If that's possible..



Any ideas?

Can't add pics...

 

Or maybe I can..

 

No it doesn't but trying to figure out why this bush has just died.. No leaf growth or buds showing and the thin branches just snap off...

 

There we go..

 

Try scraping the bark at ground level to see if its green underneath.
I doubt the plant growing around the base would have killed it, the bush would have much deeper roots.

 

Thanks for the replies. I scraped the bark back at the base. It's brown. Is that a sign it's dead before I dig it out?

 

Could the bush be cotinus aka "smokebush"? I posted something about this a couple of years ago http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/pruning-cotinus-smoke-bush.66551/.

Ours looked dead and then started to produce fresh green shoots in late spring. I'd leave it a bit longer and give it a chance to start growing.

The plants growing around the base look like campanula. I agree with others and don't think they'd harm the bush but I'd probably clear it from around the base anyway.

 

It did have a red leaf, but after trying to match the leaves, I d say it was possible a photinia or at least that's how the leaves looked. I'll leave it b this year, and if it's still the same this time next year, remove it.

 

A pretty good sign its dead !!