Here's something Tolkien had to say on the matter, from letter 156, beginning with a commentary on the incarnate nature of the Wizards:
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Why they should take such a form is bound up with the 'mythology' of the 'angelic' Powers of the world of this fable. At this point in the fabulous history the purpose was precisely to limit and hinder their exhibition of 'power' on the physical plane, and so that they should do what they were primarily sent for: train, advise, instruct, arouse the hearts and minds of those threatened by Sauron to a resistance with their own strengths; and not just do the job for them. They thus appeared as 'old' sage figures. But in this 'mythology' all the 'angelic' powers concerned with this world were capable of many degrees of error and failing between the absolute Satanic rebellion and evil of Morgoth and his satellite Sauron, and the faineance of some of the other higher powers or 'gods.' The 'wizards' were not exempt, indeed being incarnate were more likely to stray, or err. Gandalf alone fully passes the tests, on a moral plane anyway (he makes mistakes of judgement).
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If, in Tolkien's mind, Gandalf alone succeeded in the mission of the Istari, then Radagast failed -- not in the hideously spectacular way of Saruman, utterly betraying their purpose, but nonetheless falling away from the job he was sent to do. I think, perhaps, the fact that Treebeard mentions Gandalf as being the only wizard who loves trees is really quite telling. The Ents, the Shepherds of the Trees, were brought about as a result of Yavanna's supplication to Manwe (and Eru) for some protection for those things of Arda that she loved (as per the Aule and Yavanna chapter of TS). And yet, when it came to arousing the hearts and minds of the Ents to resistance of Sauron, it fell to two Hobbits rather than to Radagast, who of all the wizards should have been the one to make a specific effort to contact and advise and instruct the Ents. He apparently didn't, and thus failed his mission, as well, perhaps, as Yavanna, who I think would have wanted the Ents to be included among those peoples threatened by Sauron. The trees were the one thing that she selected as most beloved to her, and Radagast would appear to have either ignored or forgotten about them, in favor of his own personal love for birds (which is the meaning of his name as a Maia, Aiwendil).