I live in Southern Spain and my overgrown shrub flowers twice a year. However it is more than 10 feet tall with woody stems and the leaves are suffering despite being watered daily. I have seen professional gardeners prune these hard back and then they have died so I don´t want that to happen. The red bracts have just finished again and I was thinking that it may be a good time to prune. Can you tell me please and should I cut alternate branches and just tip prune the others to avoid the plant going into shock. It is very old, 30 years plus approx and for the past 3 of the 10 years we have been here the shrub has deteriorated. Strange that it lived without any watering for 6 years when the house was empty!! It gets watered daily in the warm months and even in winter if it is dry but the leaves are becoming wrinkled and sad looking. I don´t want to lose it as it is such a special plant to have in our garden.
Appreciate any expert help on this subject. Thank you.