Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea

Rhododendron hybrid ‘Conlec’ PP10580

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b Find Your Zone

Shrub Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub

Height at Maturity: 4.5′

Width at Maturity: 4.5′

Spacing: 4′ apart for solid hedge; 8’+ apart for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Bushy, Dense, Mounding, Upright

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: Purple

Flower Size: Large, 3.5″

Flowering Period: Mid-Spring, Late Summer, Early Fall, Mid-Fall

Flower Type: Single

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Dark Green, Purple tinted in Winter

Fragrant Foliage: No

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Dappled or Afternoon Shade, All Day Filtered Sun, Morning Shade with Evening Sun

Water Needs: Average, Lower when established

Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sandy (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 5.0 – 6.5 (Acid to Slightly Acid)

Maintenance / Care: Low, Average

Attracts: Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer Resistance (the deer rarely touch ours), Drought (when well established), Clay Soil (heavy clay should be amended), Heat, Humidity, Sun

Description

In 1998, the release of the first reblooming Encore Azalea changed the Azalea world forever. Since then, over 30 Encore varieties have been released. When provided enough sunlight (6 or more hours per day) all varieties bloom in spring and then repeat summer into fall.

Voted AZALEA OF THE YEAR by the American Rhododendron Society, and one of the most popular and cold hardy in the Encore Azalea Series, Autumn Royalty produces an abundance of very large, 3.5-inch diameter, brilliant purple blooms in spring, summer, and fall against a backdrop of deep green, large arrow-shaped leaves similar in appearance to the Southern Indica Azaleas. One of the most cold hardy Encore Azaleas in the series.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing to 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide, Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea is a perfect choice for groupings, mass plantings, mid-size hedges or an accent in landscape borders and home foundation plantings. It is also a fine selection for growing in large containers and pots, which can be strategically placed to dress up decks, patios, porches, and other outdoor living spaces. Because they like sun to part shade, Encores do quite well under tall trees and in woodland borders. Butterflies love the flowers, and blooming branches serve very well for cutting to create stunning indoor floral arrangements.

Suggested Spacing: 4 feet apart for solid hedge; 8 feet or more apart for space between plants

Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a, where this Encore Azalea variety is not winter hardy outdoors, you can enjoy it in containers that can be moved indoors during winter and placed back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.

Growing Preferences

We’ve been growing Encore Azaleas in our gardens since they were first released in the 1990’s and can say with confidence that when planted right, and in the right spot, Encore Azaleas are among the easiest azaleas easy to grow.

Soil: When planted in the ground, Encore Azaleas adapt well to most soil types. In general, like all other azaleas, the Encores prefer an organically rich, moist but well-drained acidic soil. Constantly soggy or wet soil is problematic for azaleas. Heavy clay, quick-draining sand, or otherwise poor soils are best amended with organic matter or other soil amendments to provide sufficient nutrients, better soil drainage, and/or moisture retention.

In containers, a 50/50 blend of professional potting mix and potting soil is suggested. Make sure the pot has a hole(s) in the bottom that allow for sufficient drainage. As mentioned above, Encore Azaleas do not like a constantly soggy soil.

Sun: Encore Azaleas will grow in sun or part shade. For best flowering and reblooming, we recommend at least 4 hours or more of direct sunlight per day. All-day lightly filtered sun, such as under tall trees, is okay. In regions that experience very hot summers with intense sunlight, Encore Azaleas might appreciate a break from direct sun during the mid afternoon hours.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant and care for Encore Azaleas

Planting Encore Azaleas
Pruning Encore Azaleas

Fertilizing Encore Azaleas
Watering Encore Azaleas
The Most Cold Tolerant Encore Azaleas

We are proud members of the ASA

Plant Long & Prosper!

Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff

Questions? Contact Us!

After two weeks, the Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea is thriving nicely in a pot on my roof deck. It looks very healthy and has lots of new growth! I give it 4 stars because it’s only been two weeks. If it continues to thrive, it will get 5 stars.———————————————————- Thanks for the photo! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! Keep ua postd, 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I followed directions packed with the azalea plant. So far, it seems to be thriving. No yellow or insect bitten leaves. I water it every chance I get, two or three times a week because it gets direct afternoon sun. I was impressed with how developed the bush was upon arrival. Very, very full. If this one lives well, I’ll buy more.—————————————We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG