I'll start by saying I don't know the answer to your question, and now I'll just babble for a bit. In general, many plants will go 'vegetative' again if you cut them back before they flower. Right now I have 3 types of kale that are 1 year+ The first is a tree collard - so that's expected to live 5 years. The others are lacinato & standard curly green kale. All three are now enjoying their second winter with lush growth. The tree collard has been flowering and now the lacinato is about to flower. I was told to take cuttings when the tree collard goes to flower, so I snipped them and have a bunch in a rooting mix (peat, fine woody compost & potting soil). I don't see any roots yet, but none of the small leaves have wilted, so I think they will do fine. There are also another bunch of florets coming up, so I guess I'll take more cuttings. I could eat them like broccoli, but I'd rather make more plants. I could't resist to let at least few flowers go to seed, even though these are generally propagated vegetatively. What I really want to do is hybridize the tree collards with the lacinato, to improve the taste of the tree collards. Now it looks like they will both be flowering at the same time, so I might just have a chance at it...

Named varieties of trees are seldom grown on their own roots. They are grafted on to rootstocks. This is to ensure that the exact variety is being sold and also because very often the variety has week roots that may not sustain the plant. The rootstocks are usually of the same species but are selected for their strong root growth or other desired trait. As your ornamental graft got sick and died the rootstock survived and took over. The rootstock will not be as ornamental as the variety. It will probably have the usual white cherry blossoms and will probably produce fruit that will have little value, except as bird food. It may also put out sucker a good distance from the original tree. Three years ago, we moved into our current house. There was a large, mature Shirofugan cherry in the front yard. Since the tree had only gotten natural watering for a couple years, the rootstock had sent out runners to maximize its water gathering capacity. Then the roots produced suckers. These showed up more than 10 feet beyond the drip line of the original tree. They made the lawn unusable and unsightly. This year I cut the tree down and gave the wood to a woodworker. Cherry is a beautiful wood. I am taking care of the sprouts with Knockout and have replaced the Cherry with an Emerald City tulip tree. After all that, if you are curious, let grow for a few seasons. At least you'll know what the rootstock tree look like.

If you are in a Z8 other than my own and haven't had Fall rains begin yet, keep them watered and be patient. There really isn't anything else you can do this time of year. Normally, healthy well established azaleas (and they are shrubs :)) will recover/resprout from severe hard pruning. That kind of restorative pruning is better done in Spring so new growth has time to mature before short days and cold weather, but hopefully you'll find all 5 will be fine. Do expect them to take a break from blooming next year - next Springs flower buds have been removed.

is this an overgrown foundation shrub.. planted 40 years ago .. and in a prime location in the front of your house ... ???? if this is way out in the back somewhere.. a renovation project would be very interesting.. if you are going to try to do this.. at the prime focal point in front.. near your entry way ... well .. i am of the opinion you would be better off starting over.. with something that will actually fit the space provided... and be a compliment to the front of your house ... there is usually a big gap between what CAN be done.. versus what SHOULD be done ... do you follow my logic.. or should i try again???? let me put it this way ... its going to be ugly for a few years ... is it in a place where you want ugly??? ken PS: put another way... its nice to have uncle homer sitting in the back yard swilling beer .... you really might not want him out on the front sidewalk impressing visitors ... lol ...