Autumn Sweetheart Encore Azalea
Rhododendron hybrid ‘Robleja’ PP16249
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6b-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub
Height at Maturity: 4′
Width at Maturity: 4′
Spacing: 3-3.5′ apart for solid hedge; 8’+ apart for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Bushy, Dense, Mounding, Upright
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Soft Pink with Lavender Freckles
Flower Size: Medium, 2.5″
Flowering Period: Mid-Spring, Late Summer, Early Fall, Mid-Fall
Flower Type: Single to Semi-Double
Fragrant Flowers: No
Foliage Color: Dark Green, Purple tinted in Winter
Fragrant Foliage: No
Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, All Day Filtered Sun, Morning Shade with Evening Sun
Water Needs: Average, Lower when established
Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sandy (amended), Silt
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist
Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5 (Acid to Slightly Acid)
Maintenance / Care: Low, Average
Attracts: Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Visual Attention
Resistances: Deer Resistance – more info, Drought (when well established), Clay Soil (heavy clay should be amended), Heat, Humidity, Sun
Description
In 1998, the release of the first reblooming Encore Azalea changed the Azalea world forever. Since then, over 30 Encore varieties have been released. When provided enough sunlight (6 or more hours per day) all varieties bloom in spring and then repeat summer into fall.
One of the most cold hardy of the series, Autumn Sweetheart Encore Azalea produces an abundance of absolutely beautiful and very large 3-inch diameter white flowers dusted in soft lavender with deeper lavender freckles in spring, summer, and fall against a backdrop of dark green, evergreen foliage. One of our favorites! Butterflies love the flowers and blooming branches can be cut for use to create stunning indoor floral arrangements.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing to 4 feet tall and 4 feet wide, Autumn Sweetheart Encore Azalea is a perfect choice for groupings, mass plantings, mid-size hedges or an accent in landscape borders and home foundation plantings. It is also a fine selection for growing in large containers and pots, which can be strategically placed to dress up decks, patios, porches, and other outdoor living spaces. Because they like sun to part shade, Encores do quite well under tall trees and in woodland borders.
Suggested Spacing: 3-3.5 feet apart for solid hedge; 8 feet or more apart for space between plants
Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b, where this Encore Azalea variety is not winter hardy outdoors, you can enjoy it in containers that can be moved indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.
Growing Preferences
We’ve been growing Encore Azaleas in our gardens since they were first released in the 1990’s and can say with confidence that when planted right, and in the right spot, Encore Azaleas are among the easiest azaleas easy to grow.
Soil: When planted in the ground, Encore Azaleas adapt well to most soil types. In general, like all other azaleas, the Encores prefer an organically rich, moist but well-drained acidic soil. Constantly soggy or wet soil is problematic for azaleas. Heavy clay, quick-draining sand, or otherwise poor soils are best amended with organic matter or other soil amendments to provide sufficient nutrients, better soil drainage, and/or moisture retention.
In containers, a 50/50 blend of professional potting mix and potting soil is suggested. Make sure the pot has a hole(s) in the bottom that allow for sufficient drainage. As mentioned above, Encore Azaleas do not like a constantly soggy soil.
Sun: Encore Azaleas will grow in sun or part shade. For best flowering and reblooming, we recommend at least 4 hours or more of direct sunlight per day. All-day lightly filtered sun, such as under tall trees, is okay. In regions that experience very hot summers with intense sunlight, Encore Azaleas might appreciate a break from direct sun during the mid afternoon hours.
Helpful Articles
Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Encore Azaleas
- Planting Encore Azaleas
- Pruning Encore Azaleas
- Fertilizing Encore Azaleas
- Watering Encore Azaleas
- The Most Cold Tolerant Encore Azaleas
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Came beautifully packaged in excellent condition……I ordered in early June and received very quickly… June 27th it is BLOOMING! And looks just like the picture. Everything I have ever ordered from Wilson Bros has come in the same great shape. Definitely recommend.————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
Encore azalea
Healthy green foliage
Gorgeous blooms—————————–Thanks for the good review! Beth | WBG
Healthy green foliage
Gorgeous blooms—————————–Thanks for the good review! Beth | WBG
I was fortunate enough to stumble on Wilson Bros. Site. I ve personally heard From Brent as to questions I ve asked. Spencer, their general manager also has personally communicated with me as to proper care of my new Azaleas. As a business owner I appreciate the personal touch they give to assure the best care of Azaleas. All of my Azaleas traveled clear across the country wrapped expertly to insure they arrived at my door in excellent condition. I am absolutely pleased with all eighteen plants. I highly recommend purchasing your garden beauties from Wilson Bros. Now to figure out how to get rid of the jackrabbits that also thoroughly enjoy Wilson Bros Azaleas. ————————– WBG Reply: Hi Amber – It was our pleasure to serve you and we certainly appreciate your review of the Encore Azaleas and all the compliments! It makes everything we do even more with the while. Hope you enjoy these beauties for years to come. Regarding the rabbits, maybe try a repellent to keep the rabbits away. Here’s a link to an article in our website you can copy and paste into your browser that provides a homemade remedy for repelling rabbits and deer…https://www.wilsonbrosgardens.com/homemade-deer-rabbit-repellent.html. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can help you with. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens
Ordered 16 of the Encore Azaleas and they arrived in good shape over a four day period. The plants were very healthy and very well packaged. Highly recommend Wilson Brothers. ——————— WBG Reply: Hi Henry – Thanks so much your your review of the Autumn Sweetheart Encore Azaleas and hope you enjoy them for years to come. Let us know if there’s ever anything else we can do for you. We’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens
The azalea arrived in great shape and is just what I needed. I looked everywhere online and locally for this variety and color, but it was difficult to find so early in the season. Thank you for having it and shipping it so quickly! Ann ——————- WBG Reply: Hi Ann – Thanks so much for taking the time to provide your review. So glad we had this in stock for you right when you needed it. We try our best to keep as many of the Encore Azalea varieties in stock as possible at any given time. Sweetheart is definitely one of the prettiest of all the Encore Azaleas. Hope you enjoy yours for years to come. Let us know if there’s ever anything we can help you with – we’re at your service! – Brent | Wilson Bros Gardens



















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