Testimonials

Encore Azalea Empress Monarch fall color

Encores are wonderful, repeat blooming, perennial, evergreen shrubs. I amend the sandy soil in the Central Florida sandhills and the Encores do fine without regular irrigation. They may get hose water once a month from April to June when the summer rainy season starts. I even had three Encores burn to the ground in April 2020. They took 6 months to re-sprout from the roots and did flower by January and February of 2021.

Nothing comes close to the durability, low-maintenance or long-term beauty of an Encore Azalea.

Posted by: Jane Weber
Posted: May 15, 2021
Dunellon, FL


I love them!!!! I have been purchasing Encore Azaleas since 2006 and I bought a new property and had to start over….25 Encore were my 1st purchase for the yard. I have one that bloomed a pink flower and a white flower side by side. Keep on doing what you guys do, produce beauty at a reasonable price with great directions for anyone who wants to grow Azaleas.

Posted by: Linda K. Batiste 
Posted: May 14, 2021
Houston, TX


As the oldest garden in America and the first garden in the nation that planted azaleas outside, the Encore Azalea fits perfectly within the mission and legacy of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. We take pride in presenting a garden that displays color throughout the year. As such the Encore Azalea allows us to offer colorful and hardy azaleas late into the bloom season with the largest collection of Encore Azaleas in the United States. I am pleased Magnolia can present to our visitors this additional beauty.”

Posted by: Tom Johnson, Executive Director, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
Posted: August 7, 2017
Charleston, SC


I started recommending Encores after the first rough winter in this area. They came through with great success. Encores are among my best selling shrubs, and the color selections leave something for everyone. The assorted growing patterns also fit any landscape. This makes them even easier to sell to the toughest customers. We are proud to carry these plants, and will continue to recommend them for a long time to come. Always excited by next new release, keep them coming.”

Posted by: Nancy Schneider, Stanley’s Greenhouse
Posted: July 24, 2017
Knoxville, TN


I’ve been lucky enough to follow and work with the entire evolution of the Encore Azalea Series. What more could you ask for? You can pick a plant that grows the height you need, the color you want and it blooms for months on end. Dang near perfect. Just give it the sun and drainage it needs and it does the rest. Outstanding and dependable!”

Posted by: Jim Crowder, Nursery Manager, Memphis Botanic Garden
Posted: July 23, 2017
Memphis, TN


Encore Azaleas is one of my favorite shrubs in landscape design. I love that it is hardy, low maintenance and above all, you can have a multitude of colors to choose from. My clients love them too. You won’t be disappointed.”

Posted by: Augustine Wong, PLA (NC, SC), Principal, CMW Design Strategies, LLC
Posted: July 23, 2017
Charlotte, NC


The one variety that stands head and shoulders above the rest is Encore Azalea Autumn Lilac™. Although it was bred primarily for cold hardiness, Autumn Lilac thrives in the heat and humidity of Florida. The lilac flowers with darker freckles bloom continuously September –January on rounded shrubs to 24” tall. In five years we have never pruned it, and the dark, emerald green foliage looks great year ‘round.”

Posted by: Robert E. Bowden, Executive Director, Leu Gardens
Posted: June 15, 2017
Orlando, AL


I have over 33 of your beautiful azaleas and they are still blooming very well and it is September. Best azaleas ever.”

Posted by: Stella Southmayd
Posted: September 11, 2015
Florissant, MO


We’ve been recommending Encore Azaleas to our clients for several years now. The Encore Azaleas have consistently been one of the best performers. The multiple different blooms throughout the year is a huge selling point and really makes azaleas a lot more appealing than they’ve been in the past. We are always amazed at how established and healthy the plants are when they arrive and our customers frequently tell us they look even better than they expected.”

Posted by: Jim Lewis, President – Lewis Landscape Services
Posted: August 21, 2015
Beaverton, OR


“Our Encore Azaleas produce consistent flowers year-round especially when planted in more sun. We have also found that they are significantly more resistant to lace bug when compared to other azaleas that we are growing. The Encore Azaleas are very hardy for Western Oregon, take low maintenance, and we give them high marks on overall performance.”

Posted by: Tom Beatty – Bush’s Pasture Park- Hillside Rhododendron Garden
Posted: 25 October 2014
Salem, OR


“Have grown Encore Azaleas for last two years and they survived a miserable winter. Right now they are in bloom. Everyone is amazed at this plant. Love it!”

Posted by: Tony D
Posted: October 16, 2014
Central, NJ


“We’ve specified Encore Azaleas for several years because of the prolific bloom and quality of plants. We recently specified Encore Azaleas for Emory Point in Atlanta; this project won a ULI Award of Excellence award and has been emulated by developers as the new gold standard for mixed-use developments. Encore Azaleas helped make Emory Point a winning project.”

Posted by: Scott Jones, ASLA, PLA, Partner SITE solutions, LLC
Posted: 29 September 2014
Atlanta, GA


“I have been growing the Encore Azaleas for over 15 years along with over 400 other azalea varieties. My Encore Azaleas have done as well as any azalea, but over the years have bloomed consistently in the fall. I am in a zone 6, and this past winter we had two days of negative 5 degrees with no snow cover, and most all of my Encore Azaleas have come back strong.”

Posted by: Beverly Knight, Azalea Path Arboretum and Botanical Garden
Posted: 18 September 2014
Hazelton, IN


“We did not lose any Encore azaleas this winter. The Encores add color to our gardens at a time when there is not much bloom, and our guests enjoy seeing them.”

Posted by: Susanne Woodell, Historic Gardens Manager, Biltmore Estates
Posted: 15 September 2014
Asheville, NC


“We had very unusual weather — We had the hottest and coldest weather in state history over the past 6 years, and the Encore varieties generally faired well. Spring bloom following 5 to 6 years of very unseasonable weather has been surprisingly good, even those overwintered in containers.”

Posted by: Barry Fugatt, Director of Horticulture, Tulsa Garden Center and Linnaeus Teaching Garden
Posted: July 28, 2014
Tulsa, OK


“We have been pleased with the performance of the Encore Azaleas in our garden, and we would recommend them for planting in San Francisco. We have had a second bloom in the fall, but the spring bloom is more prolific. Best of all, they enjoy full sun in Golden Gate Park — which translates to full fog in the summer!”

Posted by: Steven Pitsenbarger, Japanese Tea Garden, Golden Gate Park
Posted: July 15, 2014
San Francisco, CA


I live in Bonita California, San Diego County. The Marine Core Recruit Depot (MCRD) introduced Encore Azaleas to us several years ago. Our azaleas are in ground and in large pots . They bloom about every 2-21/2 months. We nurture with organic, from EB Stone soil on. Encore should not forget San Diego County’s many diverse micro climates. I bring Virginia to my landscape with AZALEAS.”

Posted by: Mary Jo S.
Posted: February 6, 2014
Bonita, CA