Yes--lower leaves brown and crispy in an otherwise normal plant does occur in dry conditions and with inconsistent moisture--which is how I grow everything
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I have quite a few (they spread) pink and purple, tall New England types and they always get brown lower leaves. The shorter New York types with wider leaves (like 'Purple Dome') also regularly get all brown and scraggly around the base while the more narrow leaved varieties seem to fare somewhat better.
