Encore azaleas are beloved for their ability to rebloom in spring, summer, and fall when most azalea varieties only bloom once a year. But what about winter – do encore azaleas lose their leaves when it turns cold? The answer is they can shed some leaves, but generally keep most of their foliage through the winter months.
Why Encore Azaleas Are Prized for Evergreen Foliage
One of the main benefits of encore azaleas beyond their stunning and prolonged blooms is their evergreen foliage While many azaleas drop all their leaves in winter, encore azaleas retain a majority of their rich green leaves year-round
This gives gardens beautiful structure during dormancy when not in bloom. It also gives the plants a head start on growth and flowering each spring since they don’t have to generate all new leaves. The evergreen foliage is definitely a standout feature of encore azaleas.
Normal Leaf Drop in Winter is Nothing to Worry About
Encore azalea plants hold onto most 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 and not a cause for concern!
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Lower leaves sometimes drop due to environmental stresses like drought. Proper care and watering prevents excessive drop.
Occasional loss of older leaves during winter is expected for healthy encore azaleas. As long as plants don’t exhibit major leaf loss, dropping some leaves is natural and not alarming.
Gorgeous Autumn Leaf Colors on Select Varieties
A unique characteristic of some encore azaleas is fantastic foliage color in fall and winter! Varieties like Autumn Amethyst, Autumn Carnation, Autumn Jewel, and Autumn Princess turn stunning shades of purple, bronze and red during cold months.
The eye-catching colors persist on leaves until new spring growth emerges. Position these varieties by evergreens to really make the colors pop.
Proper Care for Optimal Foliage Health
To encourage lush evergreen foliage growth on your encore azaleas:
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Site in morning sun and afternoon shade in hot climates.
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Plant in rich, well-draining, acidic soil. Improve heavy clay drainage.
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Apply slow-release fertilizer in early spring after blooming.
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Mulch to maintain evenly moist soil.
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Prune after flowering by thinning older branches.
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Water thoroughly when the top few inches of soil become dry.
With the right care, encore azaleas will retain beautiful green or colored foliage while still producing their signature abundant blooms.
Troubleshooting Excessive Leaf Loss
While some leaf drop is normal, extensive loss of leaves indicates a problem. Potential causes include:
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Overwatering leading to root rot.
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Underwatering resulting in drought stress.
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Poor drainage from heavy soil.
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Damage to roots from construction or tilling.
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Extreme winters in cold climates. Provide winter protection.
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Insufficient soil acidity – encores need pH between 4.5-6.
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Disease or pests causing defoliation.
Identify and fix underlying issues to restore lush foliage. Seek expert help for diagnoses if needed.
Enjoy Evergreen Structure and Flowering
While no plant keeps every leaf forever, encore azaleas are prized for retaining most of their rich foliage through winter dormancy. This gives year-round structure and beauty. Even when not blooming, they add interest and color. Give your encores proper care and you’ll be rewarded with healthy evergreen or colorful leaves plus spectacular 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
FAQ
Do Encore Azaleas turn brown in winter?
Do Encore Azaleas stay green all year?
How do I know if my azalea is deciduous or evergreen?
What should an azalea look like in winter?
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.
What happens if a Azalea loses its leaves?
If it loses its leaves, you’ve got a deciduous Azalea. If your Azalea keeps most of its leaves in the winter, it is evergreen. Many deciduous Azaleas change colors in the fall. You may see leaves turning yellow, red, brown, or even purple in the autumn before falling off for the winter.
Do azaleas need winter care?
Winter care for azaleas isn’t involved. Just watch the weather report and cover the azalea if temperatures drop below 25 degrees F. (-3 C.), especially if the drop in temperature is sudden or the plant is young. Icy winds and excess sun can damage evergreen azaleas in winter. You’ll see split bark or dried leaves if your plant is injured.
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 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.
What happens if azaleas die in winter?
In many cases, azaleas will shed the damaged foliage and leaf out in with fresh growth. Once we see buds begin to open or new foliage emerge, we can then differentiate between living and dead tissue. Winter-damaged plants may be slow in leafing out, so be patient.