another plant ID please

dollparts

I inherited this when I moved in-It is now becoming mahoosive! It flowered beautiful purple blooms and looks in places like it may be getting ready for another round perhaps?

Can someone tell me the name of it and should I dead head the spiky parts left behind after the blooms?

If I should cut them back how far back up the 'branch' should I go?

Here it is....

sb44

Could it be a Mexican Orange Blossom?

If you crush one of the leaves it will smell of citrus if it is.

Kay_Peel

You've got a very healthy rhododendron there.

Here's what you do.

Take the spikey bit between your finger and thumb and snap it off. If there are any spikes left just pick them off. Beneath the spikes are the buds that are ready to break into new leaves and carry next year's flowers. So don't prune them, whatever you do.

If you want a really good show of blooms next year, you have to water a rhododendron thoroughly between late August and the middle of October. I chuck my washing up water onto the base every couple of days. I continue chucking bowls of water onto it if we have a dry winter.

It doesn't need pruning unless it's getting too big for its boots and then it's best take out whole branches rather than trim the tops that are carrying next year's blooms. Take off a couple of the very old and ragged branches where they meet the main trunks.

And that's it! best of luck!