I love rhododendrons, especially the blousy, big ones, which (I hope) the photos on this page reflect – huge blooms that scream out “look at me”. Their displays are relatively short-lived, but when they are flowering, they are magnificent. If you have room, make space for one. Don’t worry if your soil is not acidic. My rhododendrons grow in neutral soil and, if anything, this prevents them from getting too large. However, this does not really inhibit them. If your soil is alkaline (that is, in the UK, usually on chalk), then create a raised bed using ericaceous compost.