Azaleas, which are species of Rhododendron, have been in cultivation for centuries. At least ten thousand cultivars are documentable. Most are interspecific hybrids. Only a few are selections or breeds of simple species. Most of their ancestral species are native to Asia, Europe or North America. Almost all cultivars that are available here are evergreen.
Azaleas can bloom profusely enough during April or May to almost obscure their foliage. Bloom may last for more than two weeks. Floral color ranges between white and red with many tints of pink, salmon and magenta. The most profuse flowers are as narrow as half an inch. Larger flowers may be three inches wide. Rare deciduous azaleas are fragrant.
Azaleas do not grow fast, but can eventually sprawl more than five feet wide. Some can grow nearly twice as wide. Although most do not grow much taller than three feet, some can grow twice as tall. Azaleas are naturally understory species, so can tolerate a bit of partial shade. They should not crave fertilizer. If they do, they prefer acidifying fertilizer.
Tony Tomeo 
Azaleas are a popular plant here and do well in this climate. I have a small one that’s about 25 years old.
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They perform well in some climates here, mostly on the coast, but they prefer more humidity and cooler summers. My colleague grows them with rhododendrons within a semi coastal climate, but they are considered to be a ‘specialty’ horticultural commodity here.
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This time of spring they are everywhere here, in amazing colors.
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Yes, the climate is cooler and less arid.
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They thrive here, yes. Mountain laurel, a relative, is our state flower.
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Yes, we grew mountain laurel years ago. I had never seen it before, and no one else grew it. We discontinued it because we could not sell enough. Not many here know what it is.
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Maybe it likes the seasons to do really well. It’s all over up in the mountains here. Back when things were simpler, people took Sunday drives and sometimes the drives were in the mountains to see it when it bloomed.
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It seemed to perform reasonably well here, but was merely unpopular because so few knew what it is.
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It so pretty, they should have given it a better chance.
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I merely grow what sells, but do not influence the market. When I grew citrus, we discontinued my favorite ‘Marsh’ grapefruit because we could not sell enough of it. Pink and red grapefruits were more popular, but, in my opinion, inferior to white grapefruits, particularly ‘Marsh’.
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