I just a new recieved another glossy plant catalog. I turn to page eight and "wham!!"....
This Azalea promises 11 months (if potted and brought indoors) worth of blooms!
Is this new to me alone, or do others have experience with this "to good to be true" shrub.
I am drooling over "autumn mist" and "summer sangaria" together in one spot, and "autumn angel" in another border.
[As a side note, I think these catalogs are turning me into a plant pornographer... I have them strewn around my bed, and on occassion might slip on the glossy pages when I awaken at night in the need for a drink of water.]
Zone 7-9 (and to 6 if sheltered, which could mean ME if it is wisely placed, although I generally plan for zone 5).
Sounds good for an indoor/outdoor specimen.
Thoughts, comments, rude noises? All are welcome.
2006-10-24 15:34:23 · 6 answers · asked by dumbdumb 4 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
I am a landscape contractor in Texas. I have been planting Encores since 1997. I've had very good luck with them. Encore azaleas don't produce the "big bang" display except in the Spring.Some varieties are better than others, and more cold-hardy. If you are zone 6, I'd choose any of the purple ones, as they seem to be the hardiest. Encore azaleas need more sun (and can even handle full, hot Texas sun with proper irrigation)than other azaleas. The plant tag should tell you which azaleas the different Encores are bred from. Fred Galle's book, AZALEAS,can tell you the cold-hardiness of the parents. I've never had one bloom for 11 months-maybe 7, and sporadically. It is still a good plant though. I have seen winter damage on some here in zone7b.
2006-10-29 12:48:50 · answer #1 · answered by tvlscat@flash.net 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all man come on you cant seriously be laying circled up by a bunch of azalea pictures. That’s not turning you into a photographer… It’s turning you gay.. (unless you all ready are then it makes sense) I’m a plant freak too but you gotta stay cool about it. Anyway…You can do anything you want to a plant if are able to control the environment. I could grow a frickin rain forest in Detroit if I hand enough money but we are all limited to what is possible. Blooming azaleas year round indoors would not be easy.
2006-10-24 17:27:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sounds fantastic if its true, but again like a few other people that have answered to my knowledge I have not come across an Azalea that blooms for 11mths, outdoors or indoors.
I grow so many varieties of Azaleas/ Rhododendrons here in Australia and would be ecstatic if such a plant existed as the species are one of my favourites.
2006-10-29 15:15:59 · answer #3 · answered by tassie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Now let's clean you up...
Encore is I'm sure a greenhouse Azalea. For forcing, as a gift plant. It would never survive in USDA Hardiness Zone 5, unless extreme measures were taken. It's not worth it. I am highly skeptical that it "blooms 11 months". Even shrubs that are known for their repeat blooms don't bloom like that. If on the odd chance it does "bloom" like that... it's likely to have a heavy bloom in the spring, and sporadic flowers afterward.
Azaleas belong in the genus Rhododendron. I don't know of any plant in that genus that reliably has a second bloom... let alone repeat all season-long flowering.
I'm not saying don't try it... but don't get your hopes up too high. If I'm wrong I owe you one... if you're wrong...
2006-10-26 02:47:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If this is true, it's a huge change in azaleas! What about the chilling requirements???
2006-10-24 17:01:47 · answer #5 · answered by fluffernut 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they do.
2006-10-25 04:55:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋