Vibrant pink flowers with a distinct yellow blotch create a bicolor effect in late spring. Rhododendron 'Hoopla' grows 5 to 6 feet tall and wide in part shade, hardy from Zone 4 through Zone 9.
Zone 4 through Zone 9 is a wider range than most rhododendrons carry, taking both hard winters and hot summers.
The large-leaf rhododendrons hold their foliage year-round rather than thinning like the small-leaved types. Below about 25 degrees the leaves droop and curl up, curling tighter the colder it gets, and they open again within hours once temperatures rise. It looks alarming the first winter and it is entirely normal, a water-conserving response rather than a sign of trouble.
The foliage is glossy and dark. Acidic soil is necessary, roughly pH 4.5 to 6.0, with good drainage and steady moisture. Mulch the shallow roots.