Update 2018: I sowed some blue "Fama" last year for this house, and they did ok - much better than my first attempt in 2013. The flower is spectacular -- it is one of the most beautiful shades of blue I've ever seen. They were doing fine most of the summer until the deer got hold of them later in the year, but I noticed the other day they're starting to poke up through the soil, so they survived. This year, I sowed more "Fama", both white and blue, and they came up nicely on the light cart in the house (cold stratified in the fridge for about a month first). I potted up today into 2" pots. The plants seem to be a little stronger than what I grew previously, but the roots are kind of stringy. So we'll see. Will set the pots outside in a few weeks when the weather is consistently warm. Looking forward to these blooming, they are glorious flowers and put the short "Butterfly Blue" cultivar to shame in both flower form and color as well as overall plant habit.

Not sure how well it will do in the heat of z8 TX, but it's performed ok here in the north. It is taller and more upright than Butterfly Blue or Blue Diamonds. Also much larger and much darker flowers. Violet rather than Lavender. More mildew resistance. Makes it through our winters better than others, but still needs good drainage. Hasn't been readily available from the breeder. (terra nova) Vivid Violet also performs better than other older varieties, but is more similar to Butterfly Blue. Both varieties bloom less than Butterfly Blue or Blue Diamonds, but I think that is probably why the plants are stronger and longer lived. The Plant Geek www.confessionsofaplantgeek.blogspot.com

The photo indicates that this is a deciduous - loses its leaves for the winter - rhododendron rather than an evergreen azalea. It is probably rhododendron mucronulatum or a hybrid of that species. The same link that rhodyman provided above gives good information about propagation for all types. However... It would be unusual in the extreme (as in never) for any rhododendron to root in water like a willow. The photo shows some seed capsules remaining on the cutting. Should they still contain seeds, you might try planting them and exercising several year's worth of patience before they are large enough to plant out. If there are no seeds, try collecting some capsules next fall. Rhodyman's instructions for seed sowing are at the same place as above.

Does anything blooms as much as Butterfly Blue?!? Not in my gardens. I have a tall white Scabiosa that I really don't care for, and I've avoided everything but the Butterfly Blue and Pink because the others have disappointed. Although the two colors interest me -- Vivid Violet and Ultra Violet -- in my experience in USDA hardiness zones 8 and 9, 'Butterfly Blue' is the most compact and floriferous. It could be the others are better with a real winter. Here is a link that might be useful: Vivid Violet and Ultra Violet at Terra Nova