Rosy Lights (Deciduous Azalea) has won Rhododendron of the Year awards in both the North West and South West regions... so does that mean I can expect it would do well for me in a warm inland area of NorCal even though it was bred to tolerate extreme cold?

(Of course with correct cultivation, site, soil, planting, etc.)

A local nursery near me has a few of them available. Mature, look healthy, inexpensive. Tempting!