Just moved to a new home and we have this growing/not growing. Everything else is starting to bloom, but this guy isn't making much visible progress. There were two buds at the bottom, boyfriend pulled one off (see picture). Seems like it's dead. Branches break easily and no signs of green except the two now one bud. If this is normal, can I prune it? Not very pleasing to the eyes.

Start snipping from the tips down bit by bit until you see green inside. If you get to the very bottom and they're all still dry, but you still want to give it a chance, dig it up and put it in container or in a suitable but out of the way corner. Or leave it where it is and put some annuals around it to make that spot look nice until it shows signs of improvement. Some plants will grow anew from the underground parts. There is obviously some life in it, perhaps it needs suitable pruning type care and a bit of time to get itself together.

Kind of, and I mean very vaguely, like Elderberry, Sambucus. The bud more than the plant.

I think that may be Russian sage, Perovskia atriplicifolia. It always starts off in spring like that here. You can cut it down to about a foot in spring. It's actually a lovely plant but in cold climates it dies back almost to the base, regrows in spring, and blooms in summer.

Some pictures from the database:

Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)

If the brown branches snap off easily, they are dead. Cut it down to the ground and be patient. It sounds to me like it was doing what its supposed to do (come up from the ground every year) before Boyfriend pulled off half the growth.

Don't dig it up unless you don't want it as that will finish it off. Plants that are from very cold areas do emerge late - its survival.

Edited to add: Yes, I think it might be Russian Sage also. The Russian Sage around here has not started to grow yet.

Thanks everyone for your help. Hoping it's Russian Sage. So pretty!

I'll third Perovskia.