My lilac tree has no leaves but is green

Question

It has flowered every year and has looked fine. I trimmed it during the summer but it still should have leaves, right? The stems are green inside.

Answer 1

It could be that a deep cold hit at just the right time to kill the leaf buds. If the branches are still green, it should make some leaves in its own time. Sometimes recovery from vicious winters takes a couple of seasons.