My parents planted a couple of catawba rhodies 20 + years ago against the back and side of the house. They are both now taller than the 2 story house and darn near as wide. In full bloom in late spring they are absolutely breathtakingly beautiful.

I've got the part shade and the acid soil they need, but all these oak trees suck up rain water as fast as it falls. Given our hot summers, I think they would require too much supplemental watering to thrive over time, and a non-thriving rhodie is a squirrelly thing to behold.