A versatile, year-round shrub that thrives in containers and adds a splash of color to your porch or patio? Sounds like a tall order, but Encore Azaleas deliver! When planning your own perfect porch planter, dwarf varieties of Encore Azaleas are particularly good picks. With many varieties reaching just 2.5-3’ tall when mature, their compact size allows them to fit comfortably in planters, making them perfect for small spaces. But don’t let their size fool you—these plants are packed with features that make them a standout choice.
From Colorful Containers to Lovely Landscape Plants Georgia design maven and entrepreneur Ashley Dixon envisioned lovely blooms and a full, inviting front porch for her Atlanta home. She keeps her porch fresh from season to season with new container combinations and appreciates shrubs that can be planted in the landscape when the seasons change. Encore Azaleas are just right for the job: new shrubs can be enjoyed month after month as evergreen reblooming container plants, then transplanted into the landscape the following year to become yard superstars.
In this gorgeous porchscape, showy foliage and bright blooms provide a natural complement to the home’s structural design elements. Encore Azalea Autumn Ivory® is accompanied by fatshedera, hydrangeas, cascading ivy, agapanthus, and heucherella in clusters of pots. Ashley’s porch takes on a dazzling new light when Autumn Ivory bursts into bright bloom with a shower of white flowers. Then in the colder months, this Encore Azalea provides structure and color with its evergreen foliage.
Top Tip from Ashley’s Porch Design: You don’t need to buy a single huge container to create a BIG moment on the porch! Instead, gather multiple complementary pots and containers filled with a mix of your favorite Encore Azaleas, perennials, and annuals for a lush “landscape” in pots.
Linda’s Containers go Topiar-riffic! Linda Vater appreciates the reliability and versatility of Encore® Azaleas in her landscape and containers. Linda’s cottage-style Oklahoma landscape is accented by two 4’ tall topiary-formed Autumn Twist® shrubs. She used heavy pots to balance this top-heavy shape in her landscape atop a hill in the windy Oklahoma climate. The soil in pots can be amended with pecan hulls and oak leaves for added acidity, leaving approximately two inches at the top for mulch. With topiary forms, a bamboo stake tied with string can be used for added support, especially in windy regions. Containers can also be placed in protected areas to protect from wind. Topiary-formed shrubs add an element of elegance and form to your porch, creating a focal point that draws the eye.
Top Tip from Linda’s Tree-Formed Encores: Can’t find pre-shaped topiary or tree-formed Encore Azaleas in your area? Canopy your traditional Encore as it grows to expose and accentuate the trunk. Tutorials online can show you the basics of shaping and training, and the vigorous growth of your Encore Azaleas will do the rest of the work!
Tennessee Porch Celebrates the Seasons with BLOOMS! Encore Azaleas are renowned for their long blooming period, offering not one but three seasons of flowers. From spring to fall, you can enjoy a display of color that keeps your outdoor space looking fresh and lively, pairing blooms with seasonal decor. In the fall, the vibrant blooms of this Autumn Sunburst® look stunning alongside playful pumpkins and gourds. Plug in mini mums in hues of orange and yellow around the base of the azalea to mirror autumnal hues in the trees. In spring, this container uses pretty pansies, cascading variegated ivy, and pussy willow branches for a fresh look that plays up the variety’s bright green foliage. In addition to their center-stage role in seasonal décor, container-planted azaleas offer the benefit of mobility, able to be lifted and relocated to suit your needs. This makes them ideal for adding seasonal color to different areas of your landscape.
Top tip from this Southern seasonal design: Apply the “thriller, filler, spiller” container design theory to your seasonal décor. With the Encore Azalea as your vibrant living element, consider festive items like pine cones, birch logs, willow branches, and even armillary spheres as “filler” elements in your container combinations. Whether your style is rustic, modern, or somewhere in between, Encore Azaleas will enhance the overall aesthetic of your space, bringing bright color to porches and patios. So, next time you want to refresh your porch decor or landscape, consider the many benefits of these compact, container-friendly beauties.
