Encores were first developed in the 1980s by Robert E. ‚”Buddy” Lee from a cross between traditional azaleas and a summer-blooming variety from Taiwan, Rhododendron oldhamii. Presently there are 23 varieties, all evergreen. Plant Development Services, Inc., owns the patent on Encore Azaleas, and licenses their production and sale through selected outlets, primarily across the south, southeast, and northwest.
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These plants tolerate more sun than Grandma’s azaleas, so plant them where they’ll get direct sunlight for 4 to 6 hours. Those used in northwest zones need even more sun. Morning sun is ideal – too much afternoon heat will stress the plants. In zone 6 or above, treat Encore Azaleas as annuals.
Encores can be planted in the early spring, but the ideal planting time for these azaleas is in the fall and winter. Planting in the cooler months gives Encores a little more time to establish their root systems, further strengthening the plant for the coming summer. If extreme cold spells are anticipated, protect young plants with an insulated cover.
Place your Encores in soil with a pH of from 5.5 to 6.5 (slightly acidic), in a hole 6″ to 8″ deep, with a width twice the depth. If your soil is excessively sandy or composed of clay, amend it with peat moss and compost. Make sure you remove the container and loosen the soil around the root ball, then plant the Encore with the top of the root ball higher than the surrounding soil.
Watering is easy. Encores, like other azaleas, don’t like wet feet, but the soil around new plants should be kept moist with regular watering until the first winter to avoid stress from overly-dry soil. Be especially diligent about watering during drought periods. The easiest and most efficient way to water your Encores is by installing a drip irrigation system controlled by a clock timer installed directly on the water valve.
Feeding is even simpler. You might want to add a complete azalea fertilizer after the first frost. Otherwise, decomposition of mulch and compost will provide your azaleas with most of what they need nutrition-wise. Don’t feed after August.
Encores work well in mass or drift plantings under mixed pine and hardwood stands. Space the plants on-center, at a distance equal to their mature spread, to achieve a good blending of forms. They look best in their natural growth habit, so pruning shouldn’t be necessary. If you do prune, do so after the spring blooming period. Any later and you risk removing summer and fall buds.
Common Encore Azalea names begin with the ‚”Autumn” prefix (Autumn Cheer, Autumn Embers, etc.). They grow to an average 4′ height and spread for the most part, and will fit perfectly into almost any garden situation.
With 23 varieties and flower color ranging from lavenders to reds to whites to amazing shades of pink, blooming through spring, summer and fall, Encores offer an enticing selection of easy-maintenance plants for the discerning gardener. Encore Azaleas are, indeed, the royalty of azaleas.
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