Azaleas are part of the Rhododendron Family. You could call them smaller cousins. Azaleas are putting on a great show here in my home City of Sydney right now. They are suited for cold to temperate climates, and prefer a slightly acid soil for optimum growth. Plenty of water and mulch around the roots to conserve moisture in Summer will ensure that you have good growth and flowering. The smaller growing varieties prefer part shade, and the taller varieties will tolerate more sunny positions. Azaleas are native to several continents, Asia, Europe and North America. They are a favourite plant in many gardens around here. They come in many colors. Here are some red and pinkish varieties.
And Here's a nice white one.
