Does look tender. Otherwise this web resource has no information about classification, hardiness or parentage, which may indicate these are not on record.

http://www.hirsutum.info/rhododendron/azaleas/detail.php?start=S&id=6262&offset=150

Thanks Emborthrium! What do you (anyone) think about putting it in the ground or trying to propagate it?

I wanna know where you are so I know your climate zone. The hardiness of a lot of the floral azaleas is less than the ones that are planted in the ground. Here in zone 8 I can plant some of the florist azaleas and they will survive the winter.

Thanks, Mike. I am in zone 7a.

Interestingly this http://www.plantmaps.com/list-of-hardiness-zones-for-new-jersey-cities.php says zone 7a, while the same people (New Jersey 2012 USDA Hardiness Zone Map) say 6b http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-new-jersey-2012-usda-plant-zone-hardiness-map.php and this (http://www.plantmaps.com/hardiness-zones-for-x--new-jersey) says 7a. Although there is an occasional real feel of below zero (6b), it is extremely rare to actually go below 0; I would say it doesn't happen even once a year.

As far as putting it in the ground goes there is very little info on it's hardiness. If it was bought in a nursery your chances are higher it will survive in the ground than if bought in a supermarket or florist shop.

Propagation is easy with most azaleas from cuttings if you follow normal procedures.

My gut feeling is that it was bred for the florist trade and not hardy in your location.

Thanks, Mike. I edited my last post and removed the town.

I called the county Master Gardeners yesterday and they thought it might help to put down a thick layer of mulch in the fall. They also thought something like Miracle Acid would help as pine needles take too long to break down to be helpful in keeping the soil on the acidic side in the short term.

You are thinking that if it is bred for the florist (supermarket) trade, then it can't transition by being put back in its natural habitat; that the leaves won't grow, the plant can't establish itself anymore?

Does that mean propagation won't work either on this plant? (I have never propagated a plant; if you can point me to a good, easy to follow source, I would appreciate it, even if it is for a future try with an established plant.)

It's a matter of genetics. Some of the the breeding stock was of a more tropical source that can't handle colder temps, especially much below freezing. Your azalea was meant for a special occasion and then thrown away when it dies in the house a few months later. Your azalea has a better chance of surviving outside in the ground than outside in a pot, but I don't think it will survive your next winter in either case. Your only option as I see it, is to plant it in the ground in a semi shady protected place, keep it damp this summer and hope it makes it through next winter.

Google azalea propagation and you will get a lot of info with the basics the same. It's fun and not complicated. I've started hundreds of azaleas from cuttings. Close to a thousand. I'm a retired old man and don't do it anymore. :-)

Thanks again, Mike! I will try to find a place as you say, and plant it soon and baby it. I have an established azalea or rhododendron in front of the house, in front of the dining room window (which faces north). It has been there about 3 years, but I'm afraid it might grow tall enough to block the little light that comes in the window, and I'd like to try to move it while it is still only 3-4 feet tall. Maybe I will use that to learn how to take cuttings. Thanks for the encouragement, and congratulations on your being retired. It sounds like now you should have the time to devote to garden. I'm glad you're here, helping others like myself with your experience!

I bought one of these at Aldi's of all places in 2016. I planted it outside here in Richmond, VA, and it made it through last Winter- when we hit -4 degrees F. I do have a small amount of leaf mulch. So I would say it is hardy. No blooms this spring, as forcing them for the trade really takes a lot out of them, but it looks good this spring- hoping for blooms next year. Very unique flowers!