Encore azalea are prize for their power to rebloom in spring , summertime , and fall . But do these popular bush also keep their leaf in winter ? Or do encore azalea suffer their leaves when dusty weather hits ? I ’ll explain what to carry so you could savour these beauties year - orotund .
Why People Love Encore Azaleas
Encore azaleas were specifically bred to provide multiple bloom cycles throughout the rise season Most azalea varieties only bloom in leap But encore azaleas can acquire flowers from bounce through drop frost depending on climate .
There are over 30 encore azalea varieties to choose from in a range of colors , blossom sort , and plant size of it . They bloom on both onetime and newfangled development . So even after inflorescence , they can go forward producing buds all season long with right care .
Beyond the striking repeat blooms , encore azaleas offer other great features :
profuse green leafage provides social structure and pastime when not in bloom .
slimly smaller stature arrant for gardens borders , containers .
Deer and rabbit resistant .
Tolerates summertime high temperature well .
Can thrive in full sun to part shade areas .
Minimal care needed once install .
The Evergreen Nature of Encore Azaleas
One of the top cause gardeners love encore azaleas is their evergreen habit . Unlike many azalea specie , encore azaleas retain most of their foliage year - circular .
The foliage ranges from spiritualist to dark green depending on diversity . This give landscape nice anatomical structure during winter quiescence . It also devote the plants a head start on maturation and flush each leaping .
evergreen plant leafage is decidedly one of the standout features of encore azaleas compared to deciduous azalea . Gardeners do n’t have to contend with spare , unattractive branches in wintertime .
Normal Leaf Drop in Winter and Early Spring
Encore azalea plants sustain onto the majority of their foliation through wintertime . However , some natural folio drop does occur :
In belated wintertime and early springtime , plant shed older midland leaves as new growth come forth . This is completely normal !
low-spirited leaves sometimes drop due to environmental stress like drought . right care prevents excessive drop .
episodic leave loss during wintertime months is normal and not a worry on healthy plant .
As long as plants do n’t exhibit excessive leaf bead , the loss of some senior farewell is perfectly natural and not a cause for alarum .
Beautiful Winter Foliage Color on Some Varieties
Something alone to encore azaleas is that some varieties put on a foliage color show in free fall and winter !
Autumn Amethyst , Autumn Carnation , Autumn Empress , Autumn Fire , Autumn Jewel , Autumn Princess , and Autumn Sundance showcase eye - catch wintertime leaf hues .
The foliage transforms from green to rich shades of purples , bronze , and reds during wintertime months . The striking colors hang on until new spring growth emerges .
high spot winter color by establish these varieties near evergreen like spruce and juniper . Or pair with winter bloomers like camelia .
Proper Care for Healthy Foliage Growth
To encourage luxuriant evergreen foliage on encore azaleas :
Choose a site with morning sunshine and afternoon tad in live climates .
Plant in rich , acid , well - draining grease . better drain in heavy clay .
Mulch around the base zone to wield cool , moist soil .
Water thoroughly when top few inches of soil become dry .
lend oneself sluggish - release azalea fertiliser in other leaping after blooming .
Prune immediately after flowering by selectively thinning older branch .
tidy encore azaleas hold their foliage with proper site selection , watering , dressing , and lop care .
Troubleshooting Leaf Loss Problems
While some leaf drop is normal , excessive loss of leave can bespeak a problem .
Overwatering – Too much moisture leads to root rot and leaf drop .
Underwatering – Drought stress causes leave to dry up and return off .
Poor drainage – Waterlogged soil deprives roots of O .
Root damage from structure or tilling .
Insufficient acidity – Encores need pH between 4.5 - 6.0 .
Extreme coldness – Foliage can sustain winter impairment in very inhuman climates . Provide winter protection .
Disease or pests – Fungal diseases or infestations cause leaf loss .
Identify and remedy the underlying effort to restore lush foliage . assay diagnosis from local extension service if involve .
Enjoy Year-Round Foliage and Flowers
While no plant keep every leafage constantly , encore azaleas are prized for retain the majority of their rich green foliage through winter . Even when not blooming , they provide nice structure and color . Plus some varieties wow with fantastic winter foliage show ! Give your encore azaleas right tutelage and you ’ll be rewarded with gorgeous green or colourful foliage plus cascading blooms in every season .
These plant combinations will maximize the stunning winter foliage color from Encore Azaleas.
As winter approach , legerdemain chance all across landscapes in the azalea belt , thanks to Encore Azalea ’s wintertime foliage . Color in the landscape is what we do well . That ’s why we made azaleas that rosiness in the outflow , summertime , fall , and many other times as well . However , out of the 33 varieties , only seven have leave that change color in the wintertime . look on the variety , the young leaves are regal , bronze , or crimson .
For the best winter color , couplet colors that are very unlike from each other , called high demarcation , so that they bring out the best in each other . The dubiousness is , what color admixture would make these Encore winter brilliant varieties resist out in the winter ?
For ideal combinations , I look to theSouthern Living ® Plant Collectionfor a wide array of shrub , from Holly to cleyera , and even prime conifers . originative garden designers may prefer to begin by institute a clump three ofForever Goldy ® Arborvitae . This 10- to 12 - substructure compact conifer really does offer 24 - karat atomic number 79 - like foliage all class .
The diametrical or complementary colour of gold is purplish or purple . Autumn Amethyst ® would be the best works to work with Forever Goldy because it will give you a liberal “ wow ” when it flower and again in the wintertime when its purple leaves show up . It is intermediate in height reach 4 - foot tall . Autumn Amethyst would also be terrifically partnered with the pocket-sized golden conifer Night Light ™ Chamaecyparis .
The Southern Living Plant Collection also boasts the green- and gold - variegatedGolden Oakland ™ Holly . It reaches 15- to 20 - feet in height , and no matter the color of Encore flower or shade of winter foliage , all would perform as a picturesque partnership .
Five of the seven Encore Azaleas with winter foliage are pinkish . Three of them are average types that develop to be 4 feet or more tall : Autumn Carnation ® has ripple semi - dual blossom , Autumn EmpressTM has semi - doubled flower , and Autumn Jewel ® has almost iridescent flowers .
There are two dwarf potpourri , Autumn Princess ® , which has rumple pink semi - double prime , and Autumn Sundance ® , which has lavender freckled pinkish bloom . All of these would appear beautiful with JulietTM or RomeoTM Cleyera . These upright shrubs sport white or buttery aureate diversification and reach 8- to 10 - feet tall . Each is moth-eaten hardy in zone 7 - 10 .
Last , I note everyone ’s favorite color – the deep reliable red of the velvety , semi - double , shadow Autumn Fire ® . It would also seem groovy with any of the other plant we ’ve talked about so far , but the Southern Living Plant Collection is huge and has a very alien and riotous tropic pick called “ Spider ’s Web ” Fatsia .
This fatsia does best in zones 7–9 and has heavy palmate leaves that give it a bluff grain that stands out from all the other Encore Azaleas . The leaf exhibit white splashing along with a white specked looking . This bush does estimable in azalea dirt that is rich in organic matter and is near a forest . Plant it with your favorite Encore Azaleas . This partnership will be one you will photograph for years to come .
How to Care For Encore Azaleas in Winter
Can encore azaleas survive wintertime ?
Note : in normal rainfall , your Encore Azaleas should have sufficient moisture to cope with winter . Add mulch to protect the roots . Mulch can be applied at any time , although it ’s best to add about 4 inches of mulch in the fall to protect the roots from the first Robert Lee Frost .
Are encore azaleas Hardy ?
If you are replacing dusty - damaged plants in the garden , consider a hardier variety of Encore Azalea . Many varieties are hardy to USDA Zone 6 , where average minimum wintertime temperatures dip to -10 degrees Fahrenheit . These include both nanus and average - sized plant in all hues .
Can encore azalea grow in Zone 6 ?
Most Encore Azalea variety show have march that they can boom in zone 6 , and some may also originate well in zona 5 , although they will need a bit more protection . Two fact to believe when plant : 1 . Be sure that your Encore Azaleas experience at least 6 hours of sunlight per Clarence Day . 2 .
Do azaleas drop leaves in wintertime ?
Regardless of the diverseness ’s cold hardihood , it is always a good theme to establish an azalea in a spot where it is shelter from glacial winter winds . Do n’t panic if your azalea bush throw its leaves in the nightfall or winter — there are deciduous and evergreen motley and foliage drop is normal in both type , even in evergreen azalea .
