My personal feeling is I like 'Hoogendorn' better....mainly for the leaf coloration of a darker green. I don't have it, but I do have 'Soft Touch'. 'Soft Touch' does stay quite compact and spreading as well.

Both need good soil but also very good drainage and at least 1/2 day sun.

Most Hoogendorns I've seen are fairly tight and low mounding/spreading...sort of like a Gumpo azalea. With just a little bit of judicious pruning, they could even be more dense. I wonder if the nursery plant you saw just happened to be trimmed up a bit, or perhaps it was grown in less than full sun?

Don't know where you live, but both should be quite hardy throughout zone 6 and perhaps into 5 (?)

I am thinking of putting in some Hoogendorns in front of the house.

This post was edited by dave_in_nova on Wed, Apr 9, 14 at 8:37