Azaleas are popular shrubs that are known for their beautiful spring flowers. However, did you know that some types bloom not only in the spring but also over and over again in the summer and fall?
Although most azaleas only bloom once in the spring, some types bloom three times, in the spring, summer, and fall. If you take good care of your azaleas and grow them properly, they can flower almost all year long.
In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about getting repeat blooms from your azaleas, including:
- What makes certain azaleas rebloom
- The best repeat blooming azalea varieties
- Growing and care for reblooming azaleas
- Frequently asked questions
Let’s dive in and learn all about azaleas that keep the flowers coming!
What Allows Azaleas to Bloom All Season?
Most azaleas are spring blooming plants They form flower buds in fall that remain dormant throughout winter As daylight hours increase in early spring, the buds swell and burst into the familiar colorful blooms.
As soon as the first flowers of spring die off, azaleas won’t bloom again until the next spring.
So what gives some azalea varieties the ability to bloom repeatedly in one season? There are two key factors
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Hybridization with reblooming species: Many repeat bloomers have been crossed with species like Rhododendron oldhamii that initiate new flower buds on current season’s growth. This reblooming genetics gets passed down.
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More than one growth cycle: Some azaleas flower and grow more than once a year. After the spring blooms, they rest for a while and then in late spring or summer, they send out new buds. In the fall, they flower again.
These dual traits allow certain azaleas to bloom in spring, pause briefly, then repeat the process in summer and fall before going dormant in winter.
Top Azalea Varieties for Year-Round Blooms
If you want to maximize azalea flowers from spring through fall, choose reblooming varieties like these top picks:
Encore Azaleas
The Encore series are patented hybrids specifically bred for repeat flowering. Their bloom cycles are spring, summer, and fall. Top choices include:
- Autumn Amethyst
- Autumn Bonfire
- Autumn Rouge
- Autumn Carnation
- Autumn Princess
Encore azaleas bloom heavily in spring, take a short break in peak summer, then flower again lightly in fall.
Bloom-A-Thon Azaleas
Bloom-A-Thon azaleas can flower for up to 21 weeks, blooming in spring, summer, and fall. Popular varieties include:
- White
- Pink Double
- Red
- Lavender
These vigorous growers bloom strongly from spring through fall with few gaps.
ReBloom Azaleas
The ReBloom series offer additional options for repeat flowering, such as:
- Coral Amazement
- Pink Adoration
- Purple Spectacular
ReBloom azaleas are known for abundant blooms and excellent reblooming.
Native Azaleas
Late blooming native azaleas like plumleaf azalea (Rhododendron prunifolium) will often have a smaller second flush of blooms in fall after heavy spring flowering.
Girard Azaleas
While best known as hardy evergreen azaleas, some Girard hybrids like Girard’s Rose and Crimson offer repeat blooms.
Caring for Reblooming Azaleas
To get the most flowers and encourage repeat blooming from your azaleas, provide:
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Sun: At least 6 hours of direct sun daily. Morning sun is best.
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Soil: Rich, acidic, well-draining soil high in organic matter. Regular mulching will help acidify soil over time.
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Water: Consistent water during growing season, allow soil to dry between waterings.
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Fertilizer: Apply fertilizer in early spring and again after summer blooms fade. Use azalea specialty fertilizer.
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Pruning: Prune immediately after spring flowering has completed. This encourages new growth and bloom cycles.
Meeting azaleas’ needs for sun, soil, moisture and pruning will reward you with maximum flowers and reblooms.
Evergreen vs. Deciduous Azaleas
When selecting azaleas, it’s also important to choose between evergreen or deciduous varieties. Here’s an overview:
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Evergreen azaleas keep their leaves year-round. They have smaller leaves and a bushy, compact habit. Bloom earlier in spring. Prefer partial shade. Hardy in zones 6-9. Examples include Kurume hybrids and Encore azaleas.
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Deciduous azaleas drop their leaves in fall for winter dormancy. They grow more openly with larger leaves. Bloom later in spring. Tolerate full sun. Hardy in zones 4-9. Examples include native azaleas and Exbury/Knaphill hybrids.
While evergreen types work well in Southern climates, deciduous azaleas offer cold hardiness for Northern gardens. Select varieties suited for your growing zone.
Frequently Asked Azalea Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about getting azaleas to bloom all season:
How often do azaleas bloom?
Most azaleas only bloom once in spring. But reblooming varieties can flower in spring, summer, and fall for extended color.
What azaleas bloom all summer?
For the most summer blooms, choose Encore, Bloom-A-Thon, ReBloom and native azalea varieties. Rhododendron oldhamii hybrids also rebloom well.
Do azaleas bloom more than once?
While many azaleas only bloom in spring, reblooming hybrids will flower repeatedly from late winter through fall.
How long do azalea blooms last?
Individual azalea blooms last 7-10 days. But reblooming varieties flower on and off for months.
Can you plant azaleas in full sun?
Most do best in partial shade or dappled sunlight. However, some varieties like Encore are sun tolerant when given sufficient moisture.
Do deer eat azaleas?
Deer often avoid azaleas as the leaves have a bitter taste. However damage still occurs, so protect plants in areas with high deer populations.
Achieve Year-Round Azalea Color
With the right reblooming variety, excellent care, and proper growing conditions, it’s possible to have azaleas flowering nearly non-stop in your garden.
Choose patented repeat bloomers, plant in a spot with sun and enriched acidic soil, water regularly, and prune after spring blooms. Your efforts will be rewarded with azaleas flowering for months instead of just weeks.
Reblooming azaleas extend the landscape color show from spring through fall. Now that you know which varieties to plant and how to care for them, you can fill your garden with azaleas that bloom all season long!
Plant the garden of your dreams with these Encore Azalea bloom times and bloom quantities charts
The azalea – the most loved spring-blooming shrub – dazzles in the landscape for 3 to 4 weeks. Encore® Azaleas, on the other hand, typically fill your landscape with 4 to 6 months of unparalleled floral beauty – demonstrating why they are number one.
To be honest, in places like the Gulf Coast and the Southern East Coast, it is not uncommon to see Encore® Azaleas blooming in the garden for 8+ months of the year. This is because Encore® Azaleas bloom over and over again all year, building up to a beautiful fall show fit for a family photo right before winter breaks.
Encore® Azaleas now offer you 33 outstanding choices for your garden. We know with that many selections it can be somewhat confusing. So, we at Encore® have put together some bloom charts to assist with maximizing your azalea bloom for months of riveting color.
The first chart you may want to peruse is the Encore Azalea Bloom Times. We have made this pretty simple – you can pick your favorite colors and their bloom times. Let’s say your goal would be to have incredible sweeps of purple and pink, with some dashes of glistening white –the bloom time chart will help you identify early-, mid- and late-season blooms for both spring and fall. That being said, know that Encore® Azaleas have blooms in the summer, too, some varieties heavier than others.
Encore Azalea Bloom Quantity is the name of the other chart that will help you get the most color out of your landscape. Each Encore Azalea is wonderfully unique. This chart shows how many blooms each spring and fall blooming season gets, from light to medium to heavy.
With the goal of purple, pink and white as stated above, and using the Encore Azalea Bloom Times and Bloom Quantities charts, a design proposal could be presented with Autumn Lilac® (purple), Autumn Princess® (pink), and Autumn Ivory® (white) or Autumn Starlite® (white with pink flecks).
All of the varieties chosen above have the same dwarf growth habit. The bloom time chart tells us the white selections may begin a little earlier, but they are known to be prolific bloomers. The bloom quantities chart indicates each variety blooms heavily in spring and fall, with the exception of Lilac, which is a medium spring bloomer.
Passionate for red – so is everyone else! Go to the Encore Azalea Bloom Times chart. Autumn Bonfire® – our newest true saturated red – will probably steal your heart. It is dwarf, double blooming and starts early in the spring. White is certainly to be considered as a contrasting companion, and Autumn Ivory is the perfect partner. It, too, is dwarf and begins the season early. Also, by consulting the Encore® Azalea Bloom Quantities chart, you can ensure the bloom quantities complement one another. In this case, they do, as Autumn Bonfire™ is considered a medium-bloomer in spring, with a heavy bloom quantity in fall, while Autumn Ivory™ is heavy in both.
The Encore® Azalea Bloom Times and Encore® Azalea Bloom Quantities charts are meant to be tools to help achieve your landscape dreams. Take time to peruse the website, and you’ll find everything you need to know to be the Encore® Azalea expert of your neighborhood.
Those of us that have been growing Encore Azaleas and photographing them, sometimes feel they are always blooming. Even though the two charts are for spring and fall, know that Encore® Azaleas have blooms in the summer, too – some varieties heavier than others. Each and every year is different, as nature dictates the arrival of the seasons and the timing of rains that seem to magically rejuvenate the garden.
Yes, some of us have photographed Encore Azaleas blooming New Year’s Eve, which, you have to admit, is really no rarer than capturing s of the beautiful blooms in the middle of summer. Such is the mystery and the beauty of the Encore Azalea series of Autumn-blooming azaleas.
Looking to enhance your garden year round? Encore Azalea is the answer.
These beauties bloom and re-bloom spring, summer, and fall, bringing endless color! But, how do they do it?