1.   But because the plant is always covered with vigorous new flowering stems, it never looks ragged.

2.   Each stem flowers only once, and when it has bloomed, cut it to the ground and new stems will grow and bloom summer and fall.

3.   Female butterflies, if they see what appears to be an egg on a new stem, will avoid it and lay elsewhere.

4.   In general, stems become less vibrant after they are three years old, so regular removal of the oldest ones will keep the shrub producing colorful new stems.

5.   Once there is bud break and new growth starts, woody plants pump most of their energy into growing leaves and new stems.

6.   This will help ensure that if the brittle stem gets accidentally broken or cut, new stems will sprout.

7.   While it thrives outdoors, indoors it gets a whitish deposit on the leaves and soft new stems.

8.   While the plant throws out new stems, the lower ones keep growing.