Here's a look at the new growth you will see several times a year. This photo shows a new leaf shoot. Here in the piedmont of Georgia we see this in the autum (Aug-Sept) and then again in the spring after the flowers have matured and have begun to fade. ( April -May). The flower stems begin to grow in January. This is a very early blooming shade perennial. In the northern regions, it's very common to see the flowers popping up out of the snow.

As the new growth matures the older growth will lay back and die. I give my garden a good "hair-cut" several times a year. When the new growth is firmly in place and the old growth is beginning to lay over, cut the old growth out. Same with the flower stems. After they mature the flowers will fade. That's when I prune mine out. It keeps the bed clean and gives the new growth the center of attention.