Encore Azalea
evergreen azalea hybrid series; reblooming · Robert E. “Buddy” Lee, 1998, USA
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: evergreen azalea hybrid series; reblooming
- Height × spread: 2-6 ft × 2-6 ft (0.6-1.8 m × 0.6-1.8 m); varies by cultivar
- Bloom window: spring with repeats in late summer to fall
- Color & flower form: white, pink, red, purple; single to semi‑double
- Fragrance: 0 to 1; varies by cultivar
- USDA hardiness: USDA zones 6 to 10; cultivar dependent
- Breeder / Year / Origin: Robert E. “Buddy” Lee, 1998, USA
- Pet safety: avoid
How it differs
- Reblooming habit extends color well beyond spring.
- Tolerates more sun than many evergreen azaleas with adequate moisture.
- Compact sizes include dwarf and intermediate forms.
- Cold hardiness varies more than typical evergreen azaleas.
Strengths
- Multi‑season flowers on evergreen framework.
- Wide color palette and sizes across the series.
- Good performance in morning sun to light afternoon shade.
- Works in containers and tight foundation spaces.
Care in one minute
Site in morning sun with afternoon shade; more sun is possible where summers are mild and irrigation is steady.
Soil: organic, well drained, acidic pH 4.5-6.0; plant slightly high and mulch 2-3 in (5-8 cm).
Water regularly the first two seasons; keep evenly moist but never waterlogged.
Feed lightly with an acid‑forming fertilizer right after spring bloom.
Prune only after the spring flush; avoid late summer shearing.
In Zone 6, choose hardy selections and protect from winter wind.
Watch‑outs
- Borderline winter hardiness in exposed Zone 6 sites.
- Azalea lace bug and root rot where drainage is poor.
- Chlorosis on high‑pH soils; confirm soil acidity.
Best uses (tags)
Provenance note
Breeder Robert E. “Buddy” Lee crossed evergreen azaleas with Rhododendron oldhamii ‘Fourth of July’ to capture reliable fall bloom; the selection later patented as ‘Autumn Amethyst’ was chosen in 1986 and patented in 1998.
References
- Arkansas Cooperative Extension – Encore Azalea profile
- Arkansas Cooperative Extension – Fall-blooming azaleas
- UF/IFAS Extension Encore azaleas overview
- ASPCA – Azalea (Rhododendron spp.) toxicity
