[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[nuwldct at yahoo.com]

Laura
85268
nuwldct at yahoo.com

We live in Fountain Hills, AZ (Maricopa County) and have a circidium hybrid (Desert Museum?) that was planted from a 15 gallon box in March 2007.  Recently I have noticed that it has lost many of its leaves except on the tips of the branches.  I don't see any sign of disease otherwise.  It has 3 large globe mallows growing around its root area so I'm wondering it its possible that they are depleting its nutrients or if it has some other health issue.  Any thoughts?  
Thanks, 

Laura