The beautiful blooms azalea bushes provide are often associated with springtime. But, fortunately, Encore Azaleas rebloom in the spring, late summer, AND fall.
There are thousands of azalea species, hybrids, and cultivars, but only 31 are Encore Azaleas. Development of these special hybrid blends started in the ’80s. As a result, we get to enjoy these showy flowers several times throughout the year!
Azaleas are popular in the Houston area and do well here, in part, because of the high humidity. The flower masses, attractive colors, and relatively trouble-free nature of these plants make them excellent additions to most landscapes.
Encore Azaleas are cold hardy and offer evergreen foliage that looks great year-round, so there’s even more to love. Plus, they need full sun. This is a HUGE difference from standard azalea varieties, which respond better with light to moderate shade.
Tips for Planting Encore Azaleas
First, select a site for your Encore Azaleas that will allow plenty of sun. Ideally, 4-6 hours is best with afternoon shade.
Then, prepare the soil. Thoroughly mix your existing soil with lots of decomposed organic material. You can use compost, peat moss, leaf mold, shredded pine bark, or a mixture of these. Organic matter will increase the acidity of the soil, improve drainage of clay soils, and improve water retention of sandy soils.
The best time to plant Encore Azaleas is in the fall to allow their root system to establish without extreme summer heat or the threat of frost in winter.
Be sure to water well during their first year in the ground. Although, it’s very important the soil drains well to avoid root rot. Then, to stimulate growth and flowering, prune immediately after the spring bloom cycle.
Warren’s currently has an excellent selection of Encore Azaleas to add to your landscape, including Belle, Chiffon, Embers, and more. Call 281-354-6111 for more information or stop by the Garden Center today!
Check out this awesome time lapse of azaleas blooming: