Ruby Starburst Encore Azalea

If you love red, you are going to adore your Ruby Starburst® Encore® Azalea. Like all the amazing Encore® Azaleas, it blooms not just in spring, but through summer too, with a big flourish in fall as well. Fast-growing, it soon begins to approach its final size of 3 to 4 feet tall and wide – older plants are usually wider than tall. The leaves are dark-green, soft to the touch, evergreen and less than 2 inches long, but it’s the flowers that steal the show. Big and full, these are 4 inches across, ruffled, and vary from semi-double, with two whorls of petals, to fully-double, with a center of smaller, frilly petals. The color is a glorious strong, vivid red, free of either purple or orange tones, and carries a real punch, really brightening up your garden. The secret to success with Encore® Azaleas is to provide more sunlight than you normally would for this type of plant. Give plenty of sun, and you can be sure you will be rewarded with that spectacular fall blooming everyone loves to see. Remember that acidic soil is necessary too, but if you don’t have it grow this beauty in a pot, where it will be truly happy.

• Large, vibrant, brilliant red flowers, semi-double or fully-double
• Full spring blooming followed by some during summer and a big fall encore
• Fast-growing to 3 or 4 feet tall and wide
• Dark-green small leaves are soft to the touch and evergreen
• Needs acidic soil to succeed

Plant the Ruby Starburst® Encore® Azalea in a spot with sun. In zone 6 and 7 that could be all-day, but some afternoon shade is best in hotter zones. Lack of sufficient sun is the usual reason these plants don’t rebloom. Plant in rich, moist, well-drained soil that is acidic, with a pH no more than 6.5, and preferably lower. If you don’t have suitable soil, consider growing this plant in a pot, using lime-free potting soil. Potted plants can be left outdoors all winter in zones 8 and 9 – bury the pot in the garden in cooler zones. Usually free of any serious pests or diseases, and responds well to fertilizer for azaleas, especially when growing in pots.