What’s wrong with my rhododendron?

amyjayneuk

I have a rhododendron in my front garden which is mostly driveway with a wide border that links to my neighbour’s that has a line of conifer trees separating them. The rhododendron is next to a tree (see pic I’m not sure what it is) and a little further away a hydrangea that is perfectly fine. The rhododendron never flowers. It has the odd bud on it. The leaves are yellow, mottled with spots and curled. The plant has very little foliage on it. You can see from the pics where I cut it back a couple of years ago and the leaves look greener but it is clearly still struggling

amyjayneuk

amyjayneuk

amyjayneuk

amyjayneuk

Fairygirl

It's got no chance in there.
Variegated ones are always less tough anyway, and where you've cut it back and new growth has come - that's reverted to green.
It needs somewhere without the conifers and the other planting competing with it for water and nutrients. They also need copious watering in late summer/early autumn for bud formation.
Is the soil suitable? If it's alkaline it definitely won't be happy. You'd need to dig it out and keep it in a container.

amyjayneuk

Thank you @Fairygirl I will dig it out. I am worried now that plants in my back garden will suffer as my neighbour planted Them all along the boundary on her side of the fence. We have apple trees, camellias, rhododendrons and all sorts on our side.