this may be a possibility here..

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Note added at 21 mins (2007-07-05 15:44:58 GMT)
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To deadhead, simply snip the entire spent flower stalk off the plant, as close to the base as possible. For flowers that have ** multiple buds ** on one stalk, you can either cut down to the next unopen bud or check out tips 2 and 3.

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Note added at 23 mins (2007-07-05 15:46:44 GMT)
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or, ** multiple flower buds **

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Plants that produce ** multiple flower buds ** on their flower stalks can be a nightmare to deadhead. Rather than trying to deadhead every flower, wait until the bulk of the buds have faded and shear the plants by about 1/3. This serves to rejuvenate the plant. It will send out new fresh foliage and lots of new flower buds.

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Note added at 28 mins (2007-07-05 15:52:01 GMT)
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http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/els/03781127/1997/0000... vitro induction of ** multiple buds ** in tissue culture of Juniperus excelsa
Author: Negussie A.1
Source: Forest Ecology and Management, Volume 98, Number 2, 3 November 1997 , pp. 115-123(9)
Publisher: Elsevier

Strange one this... this is the only thing I can think of in this context. I have never done well with lupins (too many of those horrible grey aphids) to remember whether they have different coloured flower stems on the same plant, but even if they do, I can't find anything that tells you why that should be.

I'd be tempted to ask the client to explain what's meant!