As we approach peak garden season in many zones across the US, we wanted to highlight a longstanding landscape classic: Azaleas.
Beloved for their vibrant blooms, easy-care nature, and ability to transform any outdoor space, Azaleas are an excellent choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners. In this edition of Woodie’s Picks, we’re highlighting a particularly special group—Encore® Azaleas.
Known for their reblooming capability, Encore Azaleas are a unique hybrid variety that delivers colorful blossoms three seasons a year—spring, summer, and fall! Read on to discover why these multi-season flowering shrubs are a must-have for your garden, and get to know our top Encore Azalea picks.
Why Gardeners Love Encore® Azaleas
1. Blooms in Spring, Summer, and Fall
Most flowering shrubs offer a single, brief burst of color—but Encore Azaleas bloom not once but three times a year. As the only patented azalea brand engineered for multi-season blooming, Encore Azaleas ensures your garden stays lively and full of color through spring, summer, and fall.
2. Low-Maintenance Care
One of the top reasons Encore Azaleas are so popular is their easy-care nature. These low-maintenance shrubs adapt well to various soil types, are relatively drought-tolerant once established, and require only occasional pruning. They thrive in full sun to partial shade, making them ideal for a wide range of garden conditions.
3. Versatile Landscape Uses
Encore Azaleas are incredibly adaptable and suit a variety of landscaping needs. Whether you’re looking to create a colorful foundation planting, a vibrant hedge, a striking specimen plant, or even a container garden, these shrubs offer flexibility and flair.
4. Pollinator-Friendly Blooms
Encore Azaleas are more than just beautiful—they also support local ecosystems. Their vivid, funnel-shaped flowers attract important pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Because Encore Azaleas bloom across multiple seasons, they provide a continuous food source, making them a fantastic choice for pollinator-friendly gardens.
Top 4 Encore® Azalea Varieties to Plant This Season
Autumn Majesty® Encore® Azalea
First on the list of Encore Azaleas, we can’t get enough of is the Autumn Majesty® Encore® Azalea. Featuring semi-double ruffled purple flowers amidst a dark evergreen backdrop of leaves, this showstopping shrub is a gorgeous addition to any landscape. This stunner grows in a rounded mound to a mature size of about three feet tall and four feet wide. The Autumn Majesty is ideal for planting at home entryways or in mass to create a wall of majestic blooms!
Autumn Lily® Encore® Azalea
Next on the list is the Autumn Lily® Encore® Azalea. Producing unique large white blooms with the occasional stripe of pink, the Autumn Lily brings sophistication and beauty to any outdoor space. This cold-hardy variety is best suited for USDA zones 6a to 10b. This moderately sized shrub typically reaches a height and spread of about four feet, making it a manageable option for many gardens. The Autumn Lily Azalea will undoubtedly bring unmatched elegance to your landscape.
Autumn Amethyst® Encore® Azalea
For a deeper purple, more striking option, you may consider planting the Autumn Amethyst® Encore® Azalea.
This hardy shrub is a great choice for gardeners seeking a beautiful, low-maintenance, and long-lasting flowering shrub. The blooms are an eye-catching fuchsia, and the foliage is a vibrant green that transitions to a deep purple bronze in the winter months. Thriving in conditions of full sun to partial shade, the Autumn Amethyst is an easy-to-grow and easy-to-love standout shrub in the landscape.
Autumn Starburst® Encore® Azalea
Last but not least on our list of incredible Encore Azalea varieties is the Autumn Starburst® Encore® Azalea. This variety features a distinctive two-tone bloom with coral pin petals and bold white margins. Typically reaching 3 feet in height and width, Autumn Starburst Encore Azaleas are well-suited for smaller gardens or areas where space is limited. They can be used in various landscape applications, including foundation plantings, low hedges, or as accent plants in garden beds.
Add Encore Azaleas to Your Garden This Season
If you’re looking to elevate your landscape with vibrant, multi-season color, Encore Azaleas are the perfect addition. Their reblooming nature, low-maintenance care, and pollinator appeal make them a favorite for homeowners and landscapers alike.
Ready to plant? Shop Encore Azaleas for sale now and bring three seasons of blooms to your yard. Whether you're redesigning your foundation beds or simply adding a pop of color to your containers, these hybrid azaleas are sure to impress and perform season after season.