Hi Roy, it wont be at all happy in anything other than acid soil, I think your best bet would be to make up a peat bed, and plant in that, Derek.

They don't do too well in too much sun either Roy. If you are going to grow it in a container rather than make a peat bed as Derek has suggested - don't let it dry out, they don't like it too dry either. I speak from experience as I lost 1 for that exact reason!
They are wonderful for winter colour.

Thank-you Derek & Scottish I'll have to have a think before I plant it then Roy.

I have mine in an alkaline bed half sun. I dug in beech leaf mould and a year on it has been beautiful. I will feed with an ericacous feed two/three times a year. So far so good.

Thank-you Seaburngirl I've got just the spot for it I think I'll feed it as you say I don't really want to put it in a pot, Roy.

Plants that grow in acid or alkaline soils do quite well in a neuteral soil, as per our own garden. We have plants of both types growing side-by-side.

Thanks for that Bulbaholic I did buy an Azalea the other day which they did say was OK in neutral soil as well, Roy.

Good luck with it anyway , Roy .
Any picture ?

I've put a picture of it in a blog Driad, and thank-you for your comment.

I've got 'Rainbow' in neutral soil in sun having bought it from the nearly-dead bench at the local GC. Its roots are shaded and I've been careful with watering, although mostly using hard tap-water. I keep telling it that it's precious and treasured, and so far it believes me, although it's only been in since April.
Sometimes you just have to make the purchase, even if you haven't got the best situation for it!

Thanks for that Teadrinker is that the answer then to keep talking to it, actually it looks quite healthy at the moment for this time of year hope it lasts, Roy.