Are you searching for something unexpected to brighten your holiday table this year? Consider looking beyond the poinsettia. You may think of azaleas as spring bloomers, but late-blooming Encore® Azaleas offer the perfect update to traditional seasonal décor.
Boasting a diverse collection of stunning bloomers, Encore® Azalea offers four striking, red-hued beauties, as well as four delicate, white varieties of various sizes. In addition, Autumn Fire™, with and its velvety, true red blooms will add the perfect touch to your Christmas design as well. Explore the charms of Autumn Bravo™, Embers™, Ruby™ or Sunset™, and Angel™, Ivory™, Lily™ and Moonlight™ to determine which color and size best suits your needs, then try one of the following centerpiece ideas.
A small one-gallon-sized Encore® Azalea will make an excellent centerpiece for your holiday table. For a simple, but charming display, arrange your Encore® Azalea in a gift bag. If necessary, crumple tissue paper in the bottom of the bag to lift it to the proper height. Be sure you have watered it first, and have allowed any excess water to drain before placing in the gift bag.
For more formal tables, place your Encore® Azalea inside a silver wine cooler or other elegant container. Arrange sprigs of a beautiful evergreen such as ‘Soft Caress’ Mahonia around the edges. If the pot won’t easily fit inside the container, take the Encore® Azalea out of its pot and place it in a large plastic freezer bag. This will contain the roots and soil, while allowing an easier fit.
Remember, after the holidays are over, your Encore® Azalea will continue to delight, as you can plant it outdoors for lovely, repeat blooms throughout the year.
If you already have a red- or white-flowering Encore® Azalea blooming in your garden, snip some branches and bring them inside. For striking effect, arrange these branches in a container with evergreens such as ferns, cedar, holly, or in an unexpected combination with herbs like rosemary and lavender.