Alan Branhagen
W
hile planning this year’s garden, think about including new, repeat blooming azaleas. I know Kansas City lies on the edge of azalea country but for those gardeners like me it just wouldn’t be spring without azalea flowers. Azaleas are one of the most popular floral displays at Powell Gardens and remain the most popular shrub in the United States. Azaleas have long been synonymous with spring but new hybrids have extended their bloom time to include repeat-flowering in summer and especially fall. One such group of hybrids by Buddy Lee of Alabama are aptly named Encore® azaleas are now widely available.
Encore® Azaleas have long fascinated me. First of all I was not sure I would like a celebrated ephemeral flower one savors in springtime to become ubiquitous. My feelings are like how the Japanese look at the fleeting flowers of their beloved cherry trees and make time to experience them. The cherry blossom’s beauty comes from their short existence which they use as a metaphor for our own short lives. Secondly, these new azaleas were hybridized in the South using a late blooming species from nearly tropical Taiwan to achieve the repeat blooming. These new azaleas surely wouldn’t be hardy. Well thanks to gardeners that are ever trying plants and pushing the boundaries, we continue to learn about a plant’s hardiness. Some of the new Encore® azaleas are crosses with hardy azalea cultivars and it turns out that they got the hardiness gene! Currently, 12 cultivars of Encore® azaleas have
Planters Seed Co. • Since 1927 •
Photos by Alan Branhagen.
Azaleas with a Repeat Bloom
Autumn Lilac
Autumn Sunburst
Autumn Sunset
Autumn Amethyst
proven hardy through zone 6 (on the old hardiness zone map). In 2011, Flowerwood Nursery donated the first 10 hardy cultivars to Powell Gardens for trial. Three plants of each of the varieties are now planted at Powell Gardens along the walk between the Rock & Waterfall Garden and the Perennial Garden. Every plant has survived despite our historic droughts. Yes, they have required extra watering and they are sheltered under the shade of maturing Baldcypress trees. They bloomed a
lot their first summer and fall and had good bloom last spring. This year they had more limited summertime bloom but it appears they have better repeat bloom with a light shearing after flowering. After experiencing these azaleas in 2011, I did plant a few of them in my own garden and currently have 5 of the varieties at home too. Autumn Amethyst™ is my favorite and also one of the hardiest. It has vivacious bright amethyst pink flowers and can have a real nice fall repeat until freeze
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Time to plan your garden! Potatoes, Onions, Herbs and Vegetable Plants arriving daily!
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NEW this year: Succulents (including classes) Large selection of Miniature Tropical Plants for Fairy Gardens and Terrariums We offer Custom Pot Design. 27610 East Wyatt Rd., Blue Springs, MO 64014 I-70 to 7 Hwy., South on 7 Hwy. 4.5 Miles to Wyatt Rd. Then East 3/4 Mile. Store Hours: Monday-Saturday 8:00-6:00 • Sunday 11:00-5:00
816-229-1277 • www.colonialnurserykc.com
The Kansas City Gardener / March 2013