Azalea japonica ENCORE Sunburst Roblet

The Encore 'Sunburst' Hybrid Azalea is a magnificent evergreen Azalea from Japan that grows into a wide bush and is adorned with almost tricolored flowers, salmon-pink edged with white around an almost red throat. It belongs to the Encore series, which has made the Japanese Azalea a plant almost as decorative as the rose, with its successive and spectacular flowerings . This lovely evergreen bush blooms two to three times a year depending on the climate, from March-April to October.  Thriving in sun or partial shade and relatively hardy, the Encore hybrid Azaleas are very versatile and come in a variety of styles, with single or double flowers, more or less compact and in a range of colours including white, red, various shades of pink, salmon, and orange vermillion. Mix them together to create either rustic flower beds or more sophisticated displays. Like all Azaleas, 'Sunburst' prefers non-calcareous soils, moist but well-draining, and fertile enough to sustain its multiple flowerings.

From a botanical point of view, Azaleas are actually Rhododendrons, plants from the large Ericaceae family. The hybrids from the Encore series, distributed by Globe Planter, were created thanks to Buddy Lee, a talented American nurseryman specializing in these plants. These quite fantastic Azaleas are the result of a long process of hybridisation and selection, with the aim of obtaining varieties capable of flowering several times a year, as well as withstanding the sun.

'Sunburst' is a medium-sized variety, with a slightly spreading bushy habit. The bush reaches about 90 cm (35.4 in) in height and 1 m (3 ft 4 in) in spread, rather slow-growing, though a bit faster than that of classic Japanese Azaleas. Its particularly abundant first flowering, begins in March-April consisting of slightly frilled, single or occasionally semi-double flowers, soft salmon-pink and randomly edged with white, with a large pink-red blotch at the centre. They measure about 5-6 cm (2-2.4 in) in diameter, are funnel-shape, and arranged in small terminal clusters. A second wave of flowers begins in late May, when new shoots appear, already bearing new flower buds to open in summer. A final flowering occurs in early autumn, usually in October. The foliage of the Japanese Azalea, more or less evergreen depending on the severity of the winter, consists of small, simple, glossy, elliptical leaves with smooth edges, arranged alternately on the branches. They are rather light green in spring, darkening in summer. This variety is hardy down to -12/-15°C (10.4 - 5 °F). Azaleas and Rhododendrons have a shallow root system that always needs to be kept moist, but they also dislike waterlogged soil which would suffocate the roots.

Japanese azaleas thrive in cool climates with distinct winters, planted in humus-rich and acid soil, such as ericaceous soil. In these conditions, they are very beautiful evergreen shrubs for flower beds or pots, attractive all year round. They harmonise beautifully with heathers, Japanese maples, or their relatives, Chinese Azaleas, which change their colours with the seasons. Combine them with flowering Japanese quince, Japanese camellias, and their graceful, often fragrant, autumn-flowering cousins, the Camellia sasanqua hybrids. This 'Sunburst' variety will look wonderful in a large, cool, moist rockery or flowerbed with Chinese Azaleas or panicle hydrangeas in a small Japanese or romantic-style garden.  It will also make a beautiful suject in a large container to adorn a terrace or balcony, planted in suitable soil and watered with lime-free water.