Welcome to Encore Azalea

Last Updated on Thursday, 12 January 2012 22:35 Written by Corrina Monday, 01 March 2010 17:06

The Inventor of Encore Azaleas

Last Updated on Thursday, 14 October 2010 21:08 Written by Corrina Monday, 25 January 2010 19:06

Buddy is a nationally known plant breeder and currently serves as Director of Plant Innovations for PDSI, the new plant innovation company that manages the Encore Azalea and the Southern Living™ Plant Collection.

Buddy is one of the most respected plant breeders and horticulturalists in North America, with over 30 years’ experience in nursery management, breeding, propagation and new plant development. He is active in numerous organizations, including the Azalea Society of America, the International Plant Propagators Society, and the Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association.

In 2000, the Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association recognized Buddy Lee’s significant contribution to the industry by presenting him with a Professional Achievement Award; and in 2007, the Azalea Society of America awarded him the Society’s Distinguished Service Award.

Other Links

Last Updated on Friday, 06 January 2012 15:30 Written by Corrina Friday, 15 January 2010 22:36

Organizations

• Azalea Society of America: www.azaleas.org
• American Rhododendron Society: www.rhododendron.org/

Licensor

• PDSI: www.plantdevelopment.com/

U.S. Growers

• Altman Plants: www.altmanplants.com
• Bracy's Nursery: www.bracys.com
• Belmont Nursery: www.belmontnursery.com
• The Berry Family of Nurseries: www.zelenkanursery.com
• Bracy's Nursery, LLC.: www.bracys.com
• City Nursery: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Country Pines Nursery: www.cpnsy.com
• Flowerwood Nursery Inc.: www.flowerwoodnurseries.com
• Fisher Farms: www.fisherfarms.com
• Greenleaf Nursery Company: www.greenleafnursery.com
• Hackney Nursery Company: www.hackneynursery.com
• Hopewell Nursery: www.hopewellnursery.com
• House Nursery, Ltd.: www.housenursery.com
• Kraemer's Nursery, Inc.: kraemersnursery.com
• Lancaster Farms: www.lancasterfarms.com
• Martin's Nursery: www.martinsnursery.com
• McCorkle Nurseries, Inc.: www.mccorklenurseries.com
• Pender Nursery, Inc.: www.pendernursery.com
• R.A. Dudley Nurseries Inc.: www.radudley.com
• Smith Gardens: www.northwestgrown.com
• Van der Giessen Nursery, Inc.: www.bestliners.com
• Village Nurseries: www.villagenurseries.com
• Wolke Nursery: www.wolkenursery.com
• Windmill Nursery, LLC.: www.windmillnurseryllc.com

International Partners

• Keith Kirsten Horticulture International: www.keithkirsten.com/
  
• Toddington Nurseries Ltd: France, Spain, Portugal -- email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
  UK and other parts of Europe -- email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

• Vivero Imperial Group: www.viveroimperial.com

• Ozbreed Pty Ltd.: www.ozbreed.com.au

Online Encore Providers

• www.plantsbymail.com
• www.BrighterBlooms.com

Gardening & Planting

• National Gardening Association: www.nationalgardening.com/
• National Coop Extension System Offices: www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/
• The National Arbor Day Foundation: www.arborday.org

History of Encore Azaleas

People who adore spring blooming azaleas can now enjoy an explosion of Encore® Azalea color season after season. Encore® Azaleas are the only patented brand of azaleas to bloom in spring,summer and fall. Each of the 24 Encore varieties begins their performance with the spring flowering season. Once this “first act” of blooming concludes, new shoots begin to grow and set buds. The Encore® Azalea's "second act" opens when these buds begin blooming into full flower mid-summer. This unique bloom season continues through the fall, the curtain dropping with the onset of cold weather. But, the show goes on. As an "encore," these exceptional azaleas flower again with traditional spring azaleas and the process starts over.

Invented by plant breeder Robert E. "Buddy" Lee of Independence, La., the evergreen Encore® Azaleas enjoy more sun than traditional azaleas, but offer the same easy care. Lee first envisioned Encore Azaleas in the early 1980s when he found a tray of azalea cuttings blooming in the summer sun at his small Louisiana azalea nursery. Inspired, he began crossing traditional spring-blooming azaleas with the rare Taiwanese summer-blooming azalea, Rhododendron oldhamii.