Azaleas are Graeco-Roman give - blooming shrubs , alight up the landscape painting with their colourful flowers . But in late years , young variety known as Encore Azaleas have become pop for their power to bloom not just in spring , but again in the downfall . While some gardeners find tumble - blossom azalea are not lifelike , they provide an likable file name extension of gloss in the autumn garden .

A Brief History of Encore Azaleas

Encore Azaleas were first introduced in the late 1990s by breeder Robert E. “ Buddy ” Lee at his Independence , Louisiana greenhouse . Lee used traditional rearing techniques over an eight year period to educate azaleas with an unco faint quiescence full stop . This allows some bud to “ wake up ” and blossom when temperature chill in autumn . Encore Azaleas apace became tremendously successful commercially , as they extended the season of interest group and gross sales potential for azaleas .

Today , over 30 patented Encore miscellany are usable , in diverse flower color , forms , and growth riding habit Competing stock breeder have since enclose their own declination - blossom azalea series , like Bloom - A - Thon and Rembrandt Azaleas

The Appeal of Azaleas in the Fall Garden

While some gardeners sense azaleas bloom are considerably appreciated in spring , fall - bloom azalea have undeniable appeal :

They furnish bright daddy of color as other flowers fade . Encore Azaleas bloom from later summer through gloam frost often for 6 weeks or more .

Their flowers endure out against autumn foliage . The colourful blooms contrast beautifully with the ardent reds and golds of changing Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree leaves .

Evergreen leafage tender wintertime interest . Even when not in prime , Encores retain green , sometimes blood-red - touch leafage in winter .

Long prime time of year in spring as well . Despite also blooming in downslope , Encores bloom abundantly in outpouring for up to 2 - 3 weeks , like traditional azaleas .

Low maintenance once found . Encores postulate minimal care besides illumination pruning after salad days fade in outflow and episodic fertilization .

Growing Encore Azaleas

Encore Azaleas thrive with similar care to traditional hardy deciduous azaleas :

Plant in part to full sunshine . dawn sun is essential for good efflorescence . put up afternoon shade in very hot mood .

bring home the bacon rich , acidic , well - enfeeble soil . meliorate soil with bark fine or compost . Mulch to conserve soil moisture .

inseminate in former saltation and mid - summertime . Use an acidic fertilizer formulate for azalea .

Prune immediately after saltation flower slice . Pruning stimulates emergence and maximizes next blooms .

water system on a regular basis for the first 2 year . Established works are quite drouth tolerant .

Protect from rough wintertime winds in cold climates . Use evergreen boughs as wintertime windbreaks .

Best Uses in the Landscape

Encore Azaleas are valued for their farseeing time of year of 3 - season interest :

Accent plants : The succinct varieties exploit well in perennial and mixed mete . Larger types make striking specimen plant .

foot plantings : Low - growing varieties are ideal along family , while tall types anchor corners . Evergreen foliage provides winter involvement .

Border hedging : Encores quickly fill in when planted in staggered rows to spring informal , blossom hedges . Evergreen leafage provide privacy when not in bloom .

Containers : Encore Azaleas remain compact in pots and bloom heavy . impart container inside for wintertime in stale zones .

With over 30 varieties of Encore Azaleas to choose from , it ’s promiscuous to feel one perfect for your specific needs :

‘ Autumn Royalty ’ – prominent , undivided purple - pink flowers on a vigorously originate shrub .

‘ Autumn Carnation ’ – fecund heyday of soft shell garden pink hatch this medium - sized azalea .

‘ Autumn Twist ’ – Abundant reddish - purple lace - like heyday on a mounded signifier .

‘ Autumn Debutante ’ – Intense watermelon - pinkish single blooms on one of the first introductions .

‘ Autumn Bravo ’ – Dense outgrowth displays fat red semi - double blooms in big quantities .

The Charm of Fall Blooming Azaleas

While twilight - flower azaleas may not seem traditional to some , their superfluity of colorful efflorescence extending the landscape ’s sweetheart into gloaming are pull ahead over many fan . Their low - upkeep nature , compact size for small spaces , and evergreen leafage for wintertime make Encore Azaleas a unique , low-toned - maintenance shrub for nearly any garden setting . Their appealingness both springtime and fall is hard to resist !

Learn why fall is the optimal time to plant Encore Azaleas to ensure garden success in years to come

Plant reblooming Encore Azaleas in the surrender to enjoy flowers until first frost . drop is the best time to plant Encore Azaleas because the estrus of summertime is ending and cooler weather is amount .

What are the benefits of planting in fall?

The days will get shorter , the sun will be closer , and there will be plenty of meter for the roots to grow before winter . The stresses of summer are over now that it ’s cooler at night and rains more often . Plants can get back to grow . Cooler temperatures are ideal for solution growth .

In fact , plants continue to acquire roots as long as soil temperature are above 40 degree Fahrenheit . When azalea are planted in the gloaming , their origin can grow for a few month in the fall , spring , and even wintertime , before the next stressful summer time of year .

Why Fall Is For Planting – The New Autumn Bonfire™Encore® Azalea

FAQ

What do azalea bushes look like in the fall ?

What should an azalea look like in winter ?

How do you winterise azalea ?

Can you institute azaleas in September ?

Do azaleas spring up in the fall ?

This mean fall - planted azaleas have several months of active root growth during the fall , spring , and even winter months before the next nerve-racking summer time of year . When planting your Encore Azaleas , choose an surface area that provides high filtered shade or a sunny location with some afternoon shade .

Are azaleas Hardy ?

Here ’s what you want to cognize about their hardiness : 1.Hardiness zone * * : Azaleas are generally stalwart in * * zones 5 to 9.However , some motley can tolerate colder mood , even down to * * zones 3

When does a Azalea Bloom ?

‘ Mother ’s Day ’ blooms with pinkish - red flowers from mid - spring . This Azalea has bright magenta blooms – almost a red-hot pinkish coloring . ‘ Mothers Day ’ blooms anywhere from the eye of spring to late springtime . Usually gracing the holiday of Mothers Day with some bright blossoms . It ’s thickset in size , growing to three feet marvelous .

Do azaleas lose their leaves ?

Almost every nightfall I learn from Friend and clients worried about their azaleas ’ leave behind call on vivid yellow . The good newsworthiness is they are probably just molting ( or losing their leaf of course ) . Although they are always green , evergreen plant shrubs do miss their leaves . It ’s just not all at once like deciduous plants do .