Low maintenance, evergreen shrub that keeps blooming over and over again!

If you plan on planting a cluster of azaleas or are just looking to add color to your home, Encore® Azaleas are a perfect choice.

The Autumn Belle® Encore® Azalea displays pastel, pink blooms from spring all the way to fall! This evergreen azalea will look great all year around. Flowers are prominent for spring and summer, while fall and winter give way to foliage that is still intact. No more naked azaleas in the winter. Not only does this shrub look great all year round, but it is also disease resistant, pest resistant, and heat tolerant.

Encore Azalea Versatility Sheet

Where To Plant

In a spot with full sun to part shade conditions with acidic soil in grow zones 7-10.

What Are Good Companion Plants?

Hostas, Ferns and Perennials

How Fast Do These Azalea Grow?

This shrub matures within 3-4 years and is full grown in 6-7 years.

When planting your azalea be sure you have the right location and conditions for your new plants to thrive. 

Planting

Planting time: Spring and fall are ideal times to plant azaleas. However, if you avoid freezing and extremely hot temperatures you can plant any time of the year

Sun: Full sun to part shade. Encore azaleas will perform best with at least 4-6 hours of sun. While your Encore azalea will still grow and even bloom in shady areas they are less likely to rebloom and the blooms won't be as prolific.

Soil: Azaleas prefer acidic soil that drains well. If you have alkaline soil, be sure to amend it. To acidify your soil amend with compost, elemental sulfur, or use fertilizers specific for acid loving plants. Mulching with pine straw or pine bark will help over time as they begin to break down, but are not an immediate solution. To improve drainage in something like a heavy clay soil, add compost and be sure to loosen up the soil well before planting.

Fertilizing

Choose a balanced slow release fertilizer. Fertilize in late winter or early spring before flowering for best results.

Maintenance

You don’t need to prune Encore azaleas, but pruning after they are done blooming can help encourage a bushier growth and renew an older plant. You can use pruning to control size, but don't prune of more than 1/3 of the plant for best results.

Thinking about planting as a hedge? It will look great. How about a cool s-shaped hedge with some smaller plants to give a nice layering effect? Encore Azaleas paired with Emerald Arborvitae for height can give your home a nice, warm, colorful look. Place 2 Emerald Arborvitae on each side of the windows and a couple of Encore Azaleas under the window. This simple design is low maintenance. Check out our Landscape Designers gallery for some landscape ideas.

Plant your Encore Azalea in full sun for more blooms. These shrubs will put on a flower show. We suggest planting in clusters for tons of color. They like well-drained soil, so avoid saturated soil. These plants are extremely low maintenance. Use our special fertilizer and your Azalea will always be colorful.

The Autumn Belle adds vibrant color to the southern landscape and beyond. Azaleas are excellent for borders and mass plantings. This evergreen shrub jazzes up gardens and mixed beds. At 4 to 5 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide at maturity this stunning azalea can even be used in foundation plantings. Try this flowering shrub in a container to add a bold pop of color to your entryway, porch, patio, or deck. For borders or hedges plant about 3 feet apart on center. Otherwise, plant about 5 feet apart to give your plants space in-between.

For additional options, be sure to browse our Azalea and Evergreen Shrub collection.