Rhododendron Autumn Empress Pink #3

The only heartbreaking thing about a traditional Southern spring is watching the azaleas fade. You get two glorious weeks of color, and then… just a green bush for the other 50 weeks of the year.

If you love the look of azaleas but want your landscape to work a little harder for its rent, you need Encore Azaleas.

These have become a best-seller here at Mitchell’s because they broke the "one-hit wonder" curse. Unlike the old-school varieties your grandmother planted, Encores are rebloomers. They put on a massive show in the spring, recharge, and then bloom again in the summer and fall.

In the King and Winston-Salem area, these are some of the heaviest bloomers. They keep your curb appeal high when other plants are starting to look tired in the late summer heat.

Why we recommend them for NC Piedmont Triad Landscapes:

• The Show Must Go On: The biggest selling point is simple—more flowers. You get three distinct blooming seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall) for the price of one plant.

• Sun Smart: Traditional azaleas often wither if they catch too much sun. Encores are bred to be tougher and more sun-tolerant. While they still appreciate a break from the scorching 5 PM sun, they can handle brighter spots than the older varieties.

• Year-Round Green: Even when they aren't blooming in the dead of winter, they are evergreen. You won't be left with bare sticks in your front flowerbed come January.

• Best Used For: Foundation plantings, colorful low hedges, container gardening, or layering in front of taller evergreens.

Variety Note: Encores come in a wide range of sizes and colors. From the petite Autumn Angel (pure white, stays under 3 feet) to the robust Autumn Royalty (rich purple, reaches 4.5 feet), check the tag on our pots to match the right size to your space.

Like all azaleas, these thrive in our acidic NC soil but demand good drainage—they hate "wet feet." For a deep dive into care and specific cultivars, check out the NC State Extension Plant Toolbox 'Encore" page or ask one of us to point you toward the right color for your home.