The mule deer that we have here on the Pacific Coast are well known to eat evergreen azaleas. Otherwise if the planting site seems pretty hot in season no kind of rhododendron will necessarily be a good choice.

Everred does beautifully here in full sun. In fact, the foliage color is enhanced the more sun it receives. Most evergreen azaleas should do similarly well also. They certainly bloom more heavily in more sun than shade. I'd suspect that the demise of the rhodies was due to something other than too much sun. That rarely has a negative impact on rhododendrons in the PNW, provided other growing requirements are met.

Recently planted = tops not touching, young heath family plants with small tops - whether rhododendrons or not - can be prone to cooking of the root zone by direct sun exposure during warm periods. With liberal watering not being reliable for solving the problem due to root rot (hot + wet = rot).

In addition the Willamette Valley is significantly hotter in summer than Pugetopolis. Even within the latter territory Seattle and its immediate vicinity is hotter than other areas near the Puget shoreline.

Gardengal, could it be too much water? Or am I hijacking my own thread?

I used to have Hino Crimsons and recommend them but I am not sure if they will complain about your sun in the summer. When buying them, I do not recommend that you "order the deer also though". ;o)) You can leave those guys at the plant nursery to feed over there instead. Yes, they will munch on azaleas... and rhodies too. Just because your rhodies have not been eaten, does not mean they will not get eaten. :o( You may need to give this deer problem a thought or two. Have you tried Plantskyd spray? Very tall fences? Dogs?

My Encore azaleas do not complain from getting lots of sunlight and the sun here is quite harsh, especially from May through September. But, I gave more shade to the HCs. I planted Hino Crimsons (1) where they got full, but very bright, shade or (2) where they got dappled sun. Had great bloomage in both spots but the ones in shade got lacebugs once. I like the HC's small foliage.