Semi- evergreen, which grows wild in SE Asia on hills and mountains, on dry slopes, cliffs and river banks. Fls. widely funnel-form, bright - dark rosy red. Rather tender, it is the parent of the indoor azaleas.
Hardy in all but the coldest parts of Pacific Northwest and UK, France and northern Italy, around Bergen (Norway) and mildest parts of NE USA such as Cape Cod and parts of Long Island.