Azalea, 8in, Electic Lights, Double Pink

The plant you are looking for is the 'Electric Lights Double Pink' Azalea (Rhododendron 'UMNAZ 493'), which is a deciduous shrub, not a true rhododendron in the evergreen sense. It is a cold-hardy hybrid known for its fragrant, double-petaled pink flowers. Flowers: Smothered in clusters of lightly-scented, double pink trumpet-shaped flowers, often with an orange blotch, in early to mid-spring, emerging from rose-coloured buds before the leaves. Foliage: Deciduous, with lime green leaves in summer that turn an attractive burgundy color in the fall, offering multi-season interest. Size: Forms an upright, spreading, and somewhat leggy shrub, growing to be about 6–7 feet tall and 4–5 feet wide at maturity. Hardiness: Exceptionally cold hardy, with flower buds able to withstand temperatures as low as -30°F (approx. -34°C), thriving in USDA Zones 4–7. Light: Performs best in full sun to partial shade. Protection from intense afternoon sun, especially in hot, dry locations, is recommended. Soil: Requires well-drained, highly acidic soil (pH 5.5–6.2) that is rich in organic matter. It is sensitive to alkaline soil conditions. Pruning: Pruning should only be done immediately after flowering to avoid removing the next season's flower buds, which form on "old wood".