Azalea japonica ENCORE Sunset Roblen

The Encore 'Sunset' Hybrid Azalea is a perennial variety with beautiful single to semi-double flowers in sunset colours. 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, in successive waves from late winter or early spring to early autumn. Thriving in full sun or partial shade and relatively hardy, the Encore hybrid Azaleas are very versatile and come in a variety of styles, including single or double flowers, more or less compact, in a range of colours including white, red, various shades of pink, salmon, and orange vermillion. Mix them together to create rustic flowerbeds or more sophisticated displays. Like all Azaleas, 'Sunset' prefers non-calcareous soils, moist but well-draining, and fertile enough to sustain its successive 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.

'Sunset' is a beautiful tall variety, with a rather upright bushy habit and an informal appearance. The bush reaches about 1.20 m (3.94 ft) in height and 1 m (3.28 ft) in spread, and is rather slow-growing, though it is slightly faster than the classic Japanese Azaleas. Its particularly abundant first flowering starts in March-April and takes the form of single, or occasionally, semi-double flowers, which are orange with a hint of red, satiny in appearance and slightly wavy. They measure about 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter, are funnel-shaped, and grouped in small terminal clusters. A second, slightly less generous wave of flowers, begins at the end of May when new shoots appear, carrying new flower buds that will 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, and often take on beautiful bronze or purple shades due to the cold. 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, acid soil, such as ericaceous soil. In these conditions, they are very beautiful evergreen shrubs for flower beds or containers, attractive all year round. They are a perfect accompaniment to heathers, Japanese maples, or their relatives, Chinese Azaleas, which change their colours with the seasons. Combine them with quinces and Japanese camellias, as well as their graceful, often fragrant, autumn-flowering cousins, the Camellia sasanqua hybrids. This 'Sunset' variety will look wonderful in a large, cool, moist rock garden or flower bed with Chinese Azaleas, blue perennial geraniums (Rozanne, Orion) or paniculate hydrangeas, in a small Japanese or romantic-style garden. It will also make a beautiful subject to adorn a terrace or balcony, planted in suitable soil and watered with alkaline-free water.