When they are planted in the right spot with the right amount of sunlight, in the right soil with the right pH and the right drainage, and pruned the right way, azaleas and rhododendrons will continue to grow and put on a splendid show from spring to early summer for many years with a minimum of fuss and bother. Azaleas and rhododendrons belong to the heath (Ericaceae) family, and technically all are classified under the genus Rhododendron. Azaleas belong to one of eight subgenera of Rhododendron, and you probably don’t want to know all these details, but the point is that if you aren’t sure which one you have, it is appropriate to call it a rhododendron. Azaleas are smaller shrubs with narrow leaves and funnel-shaped flowers with five stamens, which are the male reproductive parts of the flower. Rhododendrons, besides growing taller, have wide, leathery leaves and bell-shaped flowers with 10 stamens. More than 1,000 species with over 10,000 mostly hybrid cultivars of these glorious fl...