Plant for ID, and need some info

[onlyricky]

Hello, My grandmother got this plant. this is a garden plant and she had it for some time. but she lost the paper of how to use it, and she has no idea how to make it grow well.
Let me explain. She said something like, if you cut the flower, it will grow up better, or something. is it true?
also what's this plant?
could you give me some info about how to treat it? my grandma would be very greatful to you all

[goosey]

Hi Ricky, the plant looks like a Rhododendron.
If it is, it will take care of itself as long as it has water.
I have had them for years and have never cut them back. But once the flowers die, petals drop and the reamins and have gone brown and hard, you can snap the dead old flower off of the stem - but be careful not to snap off the new green bud underneath - that is next years flower.
Hope this helps .

[onlyricky]

Originally Posted by goosey

Hi Ricky, the plant looks like a Rhododendron.
If it is, it will take care of itself as long as it has water.
I have had them for years and have never cut them back. But once the flowers die, petals drop and the reamins and have gone brown and hard, you can snap the dead old flower off of the stem - but be careful not to snap off the new green bud underneath - that is next years flower.
Hope this helps .

no it is not a Rhododendron the flower is kinda like a pine cone and it has flowers like lines... it is very complicated to explain but for sure i thought it was a Rhododendron but Rhododendron produces flowers with nice shape, these ones have strange flowers

[onlyricky]

asked to a friend and he said and i think he's right .
it is Protea

probably a Protea neriifolia x susannae

[paul m]

If it's a Protea you'll easily recognise it when the flower opens - quite distinctive! It's from southern Africa (the national flower of South Africa, I think) - black took some pictures:


It's a very interesting plant because the seeds will only germinate when they've been burned.