Create a vibrant Valentine’s Day using Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year and Encore Azaleas.
Pantone’s Color of the Year, Viva Magenta, was practically hand-picked for Valentine’s Day celebrations. That traditional heart red that dominates the holiday’s roses, for instance,
isn’t really the red that makes you feel warm and cozy. The warm, dark pink tones of Viva Magenta make one feel loved, hugged, and cared for.
It just so happens that Encore Azalea has several varieties with those same Viva Magenta tones. One in particular,
Autumn Rouge®, could be Pantone’s “poster plant” for 2023. We’ll share several ideas on how to use Autumn Rouge® and other reblooming azaleas in the Encore collection to celebrate Cupid’s big day.
Cupid’s Cluster
Valentine’s Day is all about the red and pink tones! You’ll need three containers, all in red or pink hues and in at least two different sizes, to create the Cupid’s Cluster concept. Plant a single 3-gal.
Autumn Rouge® is the largest of these containers. In the other two containers, choose an Encore Azalea in the pink hues of your choice, preferably a smaller-sized shrub in a 1- or 2-gal. container that will act as Cupid’s “wingman” in this three-pot collection. We suggest
Autumn Carnival® with its deep-green foliage, and peachy-pink
Autumn Coral® for a vivid contrast or
Autumn Bonfire® to recall that deep-dark red so connected to the holiday. Add red- or yellow-twig dogwood to the display if you’re craving another texture.
A Magenta Moment
Red and magenta tones are all the more alluring when they are contrasted with something light and bright. White is the perfect foil for the lustrous blooms of Autumn Rouge or
Autumn Sundance, or
Autumn Princess. We like pairing these magenta bloomers with
dwarf white Encore azaleas to highlight their bold flower colors. Another Cupid combination could be white tulips to add a touch of glam. Those white blooms would look like sparkling bright lights against Rouge’s magenta hues. Here, these white pansies look oh-so-sweet planted with Autumn Princess. Or, use a cascading plant such as alyssum, bacopa, or creeping phlox to extend the combination’s color impact.
Bring Azaleas Indoors
Too cold in your region to experience outdoor blooms for Valentine’s Day? Create an indoor arrangement using your existing Encore Azaleas! While Autumn Rouge is very much Viva, any one of your blossoming azaleas is a sign of love when they are brought indoors—especially if the white flakes are flying outside. Here’s a simple how-to for forcing dormant azalea branches to bloom indoors:
- Snip 6-12 2-ft. lengths of Encore azalea branches, being sure you see small buds along their length. Bring them indoors.
- Remove any leaves or buds along the bottom quarter of each branch.
- Place branches into a vase, being sure the vessel is sturdy enough to hold the weight of the branches. Fill the vase with 6 inches of warm water, along with a packet of floral preserve or a teaspoon of sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice.
- Add individual stems of pussy willow, dogwood, white or red tulips—or roses from your Valentine. The key here is “less is more.” A seasonal ribbon tied to the vase adds a touch of class.
While Viva Magenta is the star color for 2023, you’ll appreciate the full-color range that Encore Azaleas can add to your landscape—from whites and pinks to purples and bicolours. And thanks to the reblooming nature of the Encore Collection, you’ll fall in love with their blooms from spring through fall.
