Rhododendron 'Hotei' is an older yellow form that reliably flowers year after year here in the garden. Often it is nice to include companion plants to grow with rhodies, since their bloom time is relatively short. Here at the gardens there are quite a few springtime bloomers that help extend the season of interest. The main thing to remember in adding companion plants is to not have them smother a young, freshly planted rhody! It is usually best to wait a year or two before adding new plants. This allows the rhodies time to get established and settled in.