Azaleas have appressed hairs which is hair parallel to the surface of the leaf. Instead of having hair, most Rhododendrons are often scaly or have dots underneath the leaves. Azaleas also have tubular or funnel shaped flowers. Rhodi flowers are more bell shaped.Click to see full answer. Furthermore, how do you identify azaleas?To tell them apart, first look at a flower—most azaleas have only 5 or 6 stamens, while most rhododendrons have 10 stamens. Then look at a leaf—azalea leaves tend to be thinner, softer and more pointed than rhododendron leaves.Furthermore, are azaleas in the rhododendron family? Heaths Rhododendraceae Also know, what’s the difference between hydrangeas and rhododendrons? Both rhododendrons and hydrangeas are sensitive to soil pH, and both grow best in acidic soils with a pH level between 5 and 5.5. Hydrangeas, however, are less sensitive and will tolerate soils with a higher pH. The flowers of French hydrangea will vary depending on the pH of the soil in which the shrub is growing.What does a rhododendron look like?The flowers are tubular-, funnel-, or bell-shaped—and often fragrant. The leaves of the smaller azalea are usually pointed and narrow; the leaves of the rhododendron are generally large and leathery. They come in many flower colors, including pink, red, white, yellow, and purple.