Encore azaleas are prized for their ability to rebloom in spring, summer, and fall. But do these popular shrubs also retain their foliage in winter? Or do encore azaleas lose their leaves when cold weather hits? I’ll explain what to expect so you can enjoy these beauties year-round.
Why People Love Encore Azaleas
Encore azaleas were specifically bred to provide multiple bloom cycles throughout the growing season Most azalea varieties only flower in spring But encore azaleas can produce flowers from spring through fall frost depending on climate.
There are over 30 encore azalea varieties to choose from in a range of colors, flower forms, and plant sizes. They bloom on both old and new growth. So even after flowering, they can continue producing buds all season long with proper care.
Beyond the spectacular repeat blooms, encore azaleas offer other great features:
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Lush green foliage provides structure and interest when not in bloom.
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Slightly smaller stature perfect for gardens borders, containers.
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Deer and rabbit resistant.
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Tolerates summer heat well.
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Can thrive in full sun to part shade areas.
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Minimal care needed once established.
The Evergreen Nature of Encore Azaleas
One of the top reasons gardeners love encore azaleas is their evergreen habit. Unlike many azalea species, encore azaleas retain most of their foliage year-round.
The foliage ranges from medium to dark green depending on variety. This gives landscapes nice structure during winter dormancy. It also gives the plants a head start on growth and blooms each spring.
Evergreen foliage is definitely one of the standout features of encore azaleas compared to deciduous azaleas. Gardeners don’t have to deal with bare, unattractive branches in winter.
Normal Leaf Drop in Winter and Early Spring
Encore azalea plants hold onto the majority of their foliage through winter. However, some natural leaf drop does occur:
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In late winter and early spring, plants shed older interior leaves as new growth emerges. This is completely normal!
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Lower leaves sometimes drop due to environmental stresses like drought. Proper care prevents excessive drop.
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Occasional leave loss during winter months is normal and not a concern on healthy plants.
As long as plants don’t exhibit excessive leaf drop, the loss of some older leaves is perfectly natural and not a cause for alarm.
Beautiful Winter Foliage Color on Some Varieties
Something unique to encore azaleas is that some varieties put on a foliage color show in fall and winter!
Autumn Amethyst, Autumn Carnation, Autumn Empress, Autumn Fire, Autumn Jewel, Autumn Princess, and Autumn Sundance showcase eye-catching winter leaf hues.
The foliage transforms from green to rich shades of purples, bronzes, and reds during winter months. The striking colors persist until new spring growth emerges.
Highlight winter color by planting these varieties near evergreens like spruce and juniper. Or pair with winter bloomers like camellias.
Proper Care for Healthy Foliage Growth
To encourage lush evergreen foliage on encore azaleas:
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Choose a site with morning sun and afternoon shade in hot climates.
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Plant in rich, acidic, well-draining soil. Improve drainage in heavy clay.
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Mulch around the root zone to maintain cool, moist soil.
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Water thoroughly when top few inches of soil become dry.
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Apply slow-release azalea fertilizer in early spring after blooming.
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Prune immediately after flowering by selectively thinning old branches.
Healthy encore azaleas maintain their foliage with proper site selection, watering, fertilization, and pruning care.
Troubleshooting Leaf Loss Problems
While some leaf drop is normal, excessive loss of leaves can indicate a problem.
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Overwatering – Too much moisture leads to root rot and leaf drop.
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Underwatering – Drought stress causes leaves to dry up and fall off.
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Poor drainage – Waterlogged soil deprives roots of oxygen.
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Root damage from construction or tilling.
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Insufficient acidity – Encores need pH between 4.5-6.0.
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Extreme cold – Foliage can sustain winter damage in very cold climates. Provide winter protection.
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Disease or pests – Fungal diseases or infestations cause leaf loss.
Identify and remedy the underlying cause to restore lush foliage. Seek diagnoses from local extension services if needed.
Enjoy Year-Round Foliage and Flowers
While no plant keeps every leaf forever, encore azaleas are prized for retaining the majority of their rich green foliage through winter. Even when not blooming, they provide nice structure and color. Plus some varieties wow with fantastic winter leaf shows! Give your encore azaleas proper care and you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous green or colorful foliage plus cascading blooms in every season.
These plant combinations will maximize the stunning winter foliage color from Encore Azaleas.
As winter approaches, magic happens all across landscapes in the azalea belt, thanks to Encore Azalea’s winter foliage. Color in the landscape is what we do best. That’s why we made azaleas that bloom in the spring, summer, fall, and many other times as well. However, out of the 33 varieties, only seven have leaves that change color in the winter. Depending on the variety, the new leaves are purple, bronze, or red.
For the best winter color, pair colors that are very different from each other, called high contrast, so that they bring out the best in each other. The question is, what color mix would make these Encore winter brilliant varieties stand out in the winter?
For ideal combinations, I look to the Southern Living® Plant Collection for a wide array of shrubs, from hollies to cleyera, and even select conifers. Creative garden designers may choose to begin by planting a cluster three of Forever Goldy® Arborvitae. This 10- to 12-foot compact conifer really does offer 24-karat gold-like foliage all year.
The opposite or complementary color of gold is violet or purple. Autumn Amethyst® would be the best plant to work with Forever Goldy because it will give you a free “wow” when it blooms and again in the winter when its purple leaves show up. It is intermediate in height reaching 4-foot tall. Autumn Amethyst would also be terrifically partnered with the small golden conifer Night Light™ Chamaecyparis.
The Southern Living Plant Collection also boasts the green- and gold-variegated Golden Oakland™ Holly. It reaches 15- to 20-feet in height, and no matter the color of Encore flower or shade of winter foliage, all would perform as a picturesque partnership.
Five of the seven Encore Azaleas with winter foliage are pink. Three of them are intermediate types that grow to be 4 feet or more tall: Autumn Carnation® has ruffled semi-double flowers, Autumn EmpressTM has semi-double flowers, and Autumn Jewel® has almost iridescent flowers.
There are two dwarf varieties, Autumn Princess®, which has ruffled pink semi-double flowers, and Autumn Sundance®, which has lavender freckled pink flowers. All of these would look beautiful with JulietTM or RomeoTM Cleyera. These upright shrubs feature white or buttery golden variegation and reach 8- to 10-feet tall. Each is cold hardy in zones 7-10.
Last, I mention everyone’s favorite color – the rich true red of the velvety, semi-double, dwarf Autumn Fire®. It would also look great with any of the other plants we’ve talked about so far, but the Southern Living Plant Collection is huge and has a very exotic and lush tropical option called “Spider’s Web” Fatsia.
This fatsia does best in zones 7–9 and has big palmate leaves that give it a bold texture that stands out from all the other Encore Azaleas. The leaves display white splashing along with a white stippled look. This shrub does best in azalea soil that is rich in organic matter and is near a forest. Plant it with your favorite Encore Azaleas. This partnership will be one you will photograph for years to come.
How to Care For Encore Azaleas in Winter
Can encore azaleas survive winter?
Note: in normal rainfall, your Encore Azaleas should have sufficient moisture to cope with winter. Add mulch to protect the roots. Mulch can be applied at any time, although it’s best to add about 4 inches of mulch in the fall to protect the roots from the first frost.
Are encore azaleas Hardy?
If you are replacing cold-damaged plants in the garden, consider a hardier variety of Encore Azalea. Many varieties are hardy to USDA Zone 6, where average minimum winter temperatures dip to -10 degrees Fahrenheit. These include both dwarf and intermediate-sized plants in all hues.
Can encore azaleas grow in Zone 6?
Most Encore Azalea varieties have demonstrated that they can thrive in zone 6, and some may also grow well in zone 5, although they will need a bit more protection. Two facts to consider when planting: 1. Be sure that your Encore Azaleas receive at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. 2.
Do azaleas drop leaves in winter?
Regardless of the variety’s cold hardiness, it is always a good idea to plant an azalea in a spot where it is sheltered from icy winter winds. Don’t panic if your azalea bush drops its leaves in the fall or winter—there are deciduous and evergreen varieties and leaf drop is normal in both types, even in evergreen azaleas.
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