Total die back - Campsis

[Andrew Kennedy]

Two of by mature campsis plants looked as though they had died, all the wood above the ground was dead. On inspection, however, they are both throwing up strong new growth from their root stock. Why would the top growth suddenly decided to die back?

 

[Chuck]

Perhaps the stem or stems were damaged by something? I can't kill the stuff

 

[cpp gardener]

Did they ‘die’ suddenly during the growing season?
Are they on a property line?
It could be a neighbor sprayed them with a contact herbicide that killed the tops without harming the roots. They will probably grow back, but the neighbor might do it again.