Chaste Tree (grown, leaf, trimming, winter)

[SunGrins]

I'm a desert dweller and we usually have fairly mild winters. My Chaste Tree is about four feet tall and I have been training it into a tree form for about three years. This year it has not leafed out (as of May 8) but has suckers coming up around the trunk. I know they are late leafers but this seems odd. I don't recall this from other years. Am I too impatient or did it die back to the ground for some reason? Is anyone experienced with this?

[AZgarden]

Mine is fairly late this year too. I actually thought it was dead. But now, with the 80 degree weather, it decided to wake up and smell the coffee!! Before you know it, it will have grown 3 feet and I will start trimming it.