Rhododendron Arborescens Sweet Azalea is a deciduous shrub that grows 8-12 feet tall and straight. It has smooth, dark green, elliptic to obovate, mostly blunt-tipped leaves with whitish undersides. Fall foliage changes from red to purple. From late May to July, once the leaves have emerged, fragrant, sticky-hairy, funnel-shaped, white (and rarely pale pink) blooms bloom in clusters of 3-6. A red style and dark pink to red stamens extending beyond the tubular corolla's opening are present in each white flower. Sweet Azalea prefers part-shade, light, acidic, sandy, well-drained soil and is ideal for hedges.