All About Encore Azaleas
What Makes Encore Azaleas Unique?
Encore Azaleas are an evergreen, re-blooming azaleas. While most traditional azaleas only bloom in the spring, the Encore series displays a full bloom in the spring, sporadic blooms in the summer and an additional full bloom in the fall- their final encore each year before they start all over again come spring
Characteristics of Encore Azaleas:
- Sun to Part Sun
- Re-blooming spring, summer, fall
- Plant size and bloom color varies with cultivar
- Evergreen
- Requires well-drained soil
General Care
Although azaleas like well drained soil, they still require regular watering. Make sure to water by hand if your plants are outside the reach of a sprinkler system. To keep your Encore Azalea at its healthiest, prune to shape after spring bloom and apply Ferti-Lome Azalea Evergreen Food with Systemic Insect Control after spring blooms fade and throughout the summer. When pruning, look for the tallest branches that need trimming back and follow the branch down under the canopy height you are trying to maintain. Prune just above a fork in the branch to encourage further branching. Remember to fertilize your Encore azaleas throughout the season; timing will depend on product so read the label for specifics. Fertilizing regularly will keep your plant healthier, happier, and producing more blooms!
For additional growing tips for all kinds of azaleas, please visit this blog post.
Varieties
There are over 30 different varieties of Encore azaleas, and the various kinds are categorized by growth size. The different size varieties are referred to as dwarf and intermediate. Dwarf varieties grow more slowly and can easily be maintained at 2-3’ tall x 3-4’ wide. These smaller varieties are ideal for containers, shrub borders, small hedges, as accent plants or planted in mass groups. Intermediate varieties have a moderate to fast growth rate and can be easily maintained at 4-5’ tall x 3-4’ wide. These azaleas work well as background plants in landscape, as larger privacy hedges, or as stunning accent plants in gardens. At Good Earth, we carry many varieties of both growth sizes, though some plants are kept more in stock due to popularity! Below you can read about a few of our favorite dwarf and intermediate varieties.
Popular Dwarf Varieties
Autumn Angel
The “Angel” Encore azalea has dark green glossy foliage that accentuates the pure white blooms of this compact plant. Great choice for breaking up blocks of color in your beds or an excellent choice for a clean, modern look in your garden!
- Bloom Color: White
- Height: 3 feet
- Spread: 3 feet
- Bloom Span: 3 inch across
- Bloom Form: Single
Autumn Coral
The “Coral” Encore azalea is an amazing bloomer that will bloom profusely during the summer and into fall. Autumn Coral has soft coral pink flowers, dotted with bright fuchsia centers.
- Bloom Color: Pink
- Height: 2.5 feet
- Spread: 3 feet
- Bloom Span: 2.75-3 inch across
- Bloom Form: Single
Autumn Embers
The “Embers” Encore azalea is one of the most popular Encore Azalea varieties due to its striking color, referenced by its fiery name! The deep orange-red blooms stand out beautifully in any landscape.
- Bloom Color: Red
- Height: 3 feet
- Spread: 3.5 feet
- Bloom Span: 2.5 inches across
- Bloom Form: Semi-double
Popular Intermediate Varieties
Autumn Rouge
The “Rouge” Encore azalea is characterized by darker lustrous foliage that accentuates its beautiful semi-double, magenta pink flowers. This variety is the original Encore azalea, and still a favorite for gardeners everywhere.
- Bloom Color: Pink
- Height: 4 feet
- Spread: 4.5 feet
- Bloom Span: 2 inches across
- Bloom Form: Semi-double
Autumn Royalty
The “Royalty” Encore azalea was rightfully named as it was voted Azalea of the Year by the American Rhododendron Society. This variety is robust with deep green foliage and large, rich purple blooms- a very eye catching bloom!
- Bloom Color: Purple
- Height: 4.5 feet
- Spread: 4 feet
- Bloom Span: 3.5 inches across
- Bloom Form: Single
Autumn Twist
The “Twist” Encore azalea features bi-colored white/pink-shaded petals with purple striping. Each blossom spans from white to pink, pinkish-purple, with occasionally solid purple, and is fastly growing in popularity due to its uniquely colored, larger blooms. .
- Bloom Color: Bi-color
- Height: 4.5 feet
- Spread: 4 feet
- Bloom Span: 3 inches across
- Bloom Form: Single
Overall, Encore Azaleas are a versatile, low maintenance bloomer that can be perfect for practically every garden. From pots to borders, this beautiful blooming shrub can do it all. To see what we have in stock, please call or visit us today!