Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea

Rhododendron 'Autumn Moonlight'

Growzone: 7-10

Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea is a fast growing upright azalea with light green foliage and white semi-double ruffled flowers.

Size	Price	Quantity
1 GAL	$29.95
3 GAL	$54.95

Purchase Recommended Add-ons

Espoma Bio-Tone Plus Starter Plus $14.95

Espoma Holly-Tone $12.95

Full Description

The beautiful ruffled blooms of Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea are pure white with yellow dusted throats. A robust, upright grower with light green foliage, this variety is great for background plantings. Having a medium growth rate, this repeat bloomer makes a great foundation plant. This new variety possesses a unique blooming time and is superior in development. A site sloping to the north or east is usually best because it is less subjected to rapid temperature changes in late fall or early spring; needs wind protection. Filtered sunlight is ideal, but morning sunlight is best; plant may survive continuous shade if trees have branches pruned high. Protection from afternoon sun may also be given by fences, shrubbery or screens. Roots of azaleas and rhododendrons are very delicate and unable to penetrate heavy or rocky soils; excellent drainage is important. After flowering, new shoots appear and develop additional flower buds, resulting in both a summer (late July) and a fall bloom (sometimes to frost).

Specifications

Growing Zone:	5-9
Mature Height:	4 to 5 feet
Mature Width:	3.5 to 4 feet
Classification:	Upright, Broad leaved evergreen shrub
Sunlight:	Part Shade to filtered sun
Habit:	Upright
Foliage:	Light Green
Flower Color:	Pure White with lightly dusted yellow throat
Pruning Season:	Pruning not needed
Soil Condition:	Any well drained soil
Water Requirements:	Water well until established
Uses:	Extremely attractive when used as in the mixed border, or containers

Planting Info

We suggest when planting your newly purchased Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea plants that you dig a hole twice as wide as the root system but not deeper. Depending on the quality of your existing soil you may need to add a locally sourced compost or topsoil to the back-fill soil. We do not recommend using straight topsoil or compost as a back-fill soil because more times than not these products will retain entirely to much moisture and will cause the root system to rot. Good soil drainage is essential (plants do not like “wet feet”). Poor drainage inevitably leads to root rot on Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea, therefore raised beds/plantings should be considered in heavy clay soils. Shallow, fibrous root systems will benefit greatly from a mulch (e.g., wood chips, bark or pine needles) to help retain moisture and stabilize soil temperatures. Adding compost or topsoil will help the young feeder roots of Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea to spread through the loose, nutrient rich soil, much easier than if you used solely the existing soil which more times than not will be hard and compacted. The most common cause of plant death after transplanting is planting the new plant to deep especially on Azaleas. That is why we do not recommend planting in a hole any deeper than the soil line of the plant in the pot. A good rule is that you should still be able to see the soil the plant was grown in after back-filling the hole. Plant Encore azaleas in locations that receive at least six hours of sunlight daily. Bio-tone starter fertilizer is a great starter fertilizer that provides plants with mycorrhizae fungus. It is a naturally occuring beneficial fungus that colonizes on the new growing roots of plants. It creates a barrier between the roots of the plant and fungus and pathogens that can cause root rot. We love this product and use it on all plants we install in our own gardens. Bio-tone is a gardeners best friend and can help guarantee your success.

FAQs

How do I prune Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea?

The best time when to trim azaleas is after the blossoms have faded but before the new blossom buds have started. The next year’s blossoms typically start forming at the beginning of July, so you must prune an azalea bush before then. If you prune azaleas after the beginning of July, you may not get any flowers on the bush next year. In general gardening terms, pruning is probably the most misunderstood gardening chore, and certainly, the chore that is most likely neglected. When we specifically look at pruning with regards to azaleas, this misunderstanding and negligence can be magnified. Pruning has been described as a “combination of art and science.” I personally find pruning to be one of the most relaxing yet rewarding chores in the garden. Pruning a specific plant to look a specific way, involves art in creating a unique definition for a specific plant, and it involves science in understanding the physical growing habits of the plant to be pruned. The most important reason for pruning Azaleas is to improve the overall health of the plant which in turn will reward you with a flush of new growth. Removing the dead and dying limbs will minimize the possibility of diseases such as “die back” and will also allow the plant to re-concentrate its energies and produce many more foliage. Another reason for pruning azaleas such as Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea is to re-define the plant’s definition within the landscape. Many times, a plant may outgrow its intended size in the landscape, and must be pruned to re-define its purpose. Pruning should always be associated with re-invigorating a plant by allowing it to focus its energies on producing more vigorous branches, foliage, and flowers. It is important to always use sharp tools when pruning azaleas or any plant for that matter. Knives, hand cutters, saws, and shears should be sharpened if necessary before pruning any roses. A sharp cut will heal quicker than a jagged cut, which will also minimize the likelihood of disease investing a cut during pruning. It is generally recommended to not use power equipment such as gas hedgers to prune azaleas or any plant in my opinion.

How do I mulch Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea?

Can I use coffee grounds with Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea?

How do I fertilize Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea?

Azalea's such as Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea grow best if they are fertilized once in the spring. Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea favors nutrient rich soil and ample fertilization. When selecting a fertilizer for your Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea, use a balanced fertilizer blended specifically for shrubs such as Espoma Holly Tone for example its also a good idea to acidify the soil using Espoma soil acidifier once a year to maintain a "sour" environment for your azaleas. See "Using coffee grounds with your Azaleas" further down this page. Our ideal fertilizer schedule for azaleas is to apply an early spring fertilizer with a product such as Espoma Tree-tone or Plant-tone at the recommended rate this will give the plant a boost of nitrogen that will be needed for healthy abundant foliage. Follow this up with a early summer application of Espoma Holly-Tone, this will provide the necessary nutrients and raise the acid level in the soil which spirea favor. Espoma products are easy to use, just sprinkle around the base of the plant and water it in. Be careful with products such as miracle-grow as these products can burn newly planted plants when not used at the recommended rates. Slow-release fertilizer can help prevent rapid sucker growth that is vulnerable to diseases and insects. Either chemical fertilizers or organic matter can be used successfully. Since an organic method of applying manure and/or compost around the roots, produces excellent results and also improves the condition of the soil, this would be an excellent first line of attack. Organic additions to the soil can also be combined with a shot of chemical fertilizer for maximum effect. If chemical fertilizers are used on your Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea, applying a slow-release, balanced fertilizer once a year in the spring is probably the simplest solution. There are many slow-release fertilizers on the market. If you can find a fertilizer formulated for acid loving shrubs and trees, this fertilizer would work well on Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea. However, slow-release is certainly not the only way to fertilize Azaleas such as Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea although truth be told I feel its the best. A less expensive fast release fertilizer such as a 15-15-15 will work just as well if applied twice during the growing season in the spring and again in mid summer. If you are looking for a fertilizing routine tailored to your specific conditions, a soil sample should be taken and the fertilizer and trace elements matched to the needs of your soil. Don't fertilize Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea after August in the North. Fall is the time for Azaleas to begin preparing for dormancy. Fertilizing at this time may stimulate new growth that will be too tender to withstand the winter. In the South, a late summer into September application would be about right. As mentioned one spring application of a balanced fertilizer should more than suffice. The amount of chemical fertilizer used per plant will vary with the size of the plant and it's root system. Over-fertilization can be much more detrimental than under-fertilization especially on azaleas. "Fertilizer burn" can occur when too much fertilizer is applied, resulting in a drying out of the roots and damage or even death of the rose.It is much, much better to err on the side of too little fertilizer than too much. When roots are burned, the first sign is often scorched looking leaves. If over-fertilization is severe, the plant may just wilt and die. Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea is very easy to grow however it may be helpful to know that a very small plant which is planted in the ground will take about 1/8 - 1/4 cup of espoma organic holly-tone fertilizer. When fertilizing Azaleas in containers, be careful to apply a fertilizer that will not burn the roots (such as a slow release or a liquid fertilizer). A very large shrub azalea in the ground will take 2 - 3 cups spread around the drip line of the branches (not next to the trunk). This is a very loose estimate, so please read the directions on the fertilizer before applying it. Never fertilize a plant with a chemical fertilizer if the plant looks sick or wilted. If a plant is struggling due to a disease or root problems, the fertilizer will only add stress to it's life. Try to cure the problem before adding fertilizer. For a totally organic approach, many gardeners use commercial manure on the soil around azaleas such as Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea. Excellent results have been reported by visitors to this site after using composted manure. Commercial manure or compost can be applied yearly around the base of the azaleas. As with chemical fertilizers, do not apply it right next to the trunk or stems emerging from the ground. Azaleas thrive in soil with a pH from 4.5 to 6.0. Soil should drain well, because waterlogged conditions encourage disease development and may result in plant drowning. When soil pH rises and become too alkaline, azaleas cannot absorb adequate iron and experience chlorosis, or yellowing of plant tissue due to poor nutrient intake. Although azaleas prefer acid-forming fertilizers, such as 15-5-15, blindly applying fertilizer to unchecked soil may result in disaster.

How do I water Autumn Moonlight Encore Azalea?

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Additional Information

History and introduction of Encore Azaleas:

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 1980's 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. Robert E. “Buddy” Lee is the Director of Plant Innovations at Plant Development Services, Inc. Buddy is one of the most respected plant breeders and horticulturists in North America, with over 30 years’ experience in nursery management, breeding, propagation and new plant development. 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.