Autumn Carnation® Azalea

Autumn Carnation® Azalea - Pink Reblooming Evergreen Azalea

Fill your landscape with months of beautiful pink flowers with Autumn Carnation® Encore® Azalea. This heavy-blooming evergreen azalea produces masses of ruffled, medium-pink flowers in spring, followed by repeat flowering throughout summer and fall for an exceptionally long season of color.

The semi-double blooms stand out beautifully against glossy deep green foliage, creating a lush, polished appearance throughout the growing season. As temperatures cool, the foliage develops attractive purple tones, adding additional fall and winter interest even when the plant is not flowering.

Growing approximately 4.5 feet tall and 4 feet wide, Autumn Carnation® develops a dense, upright, well-branched habit that makes it an excellent choice for flowering hedges, foundation plantings, mixed borders, mass plantings, specimen plantings, and large containers.

Why You'll Love Autumn Carnation® Azalea

Beautiful Ruffled Pink Flowers: Medium-pink semi-double blooms create a soft but colorful display throughout the landscape.

Blooms Spring, Summer & Fall: Unlike traditional azaleas that primarily bloom once in spring, Autumn Carnation® produces multiple flowering cycles throughout the growing season.

Heavy Flowering Variety: Known for abundant blooms that can cover much of the shrub during peak flowering periods.

Purple Winter Foliage: Glossy deep green leaves develop attractive purple tones during fall and winter.

Excellent for Hedges & Screens: Its intermediate size and dense growth habit make it especially useful for flowering hedges and informal screens.

Sun Tolerant: Performs from light shade to full sun, with approximately 4-6 hours of direct sunlight encouraging the best reblooming performance.

Autumn Carnation® Azalea Details

• Botanical Name: Rhododendron hybrid 'Roblec'

• Cultivar: Autumn Carnation®

• Collection: Encore® Azalea

• Plant Type: Reblooming evergreen flowering shrub

• Mature Height: Approximately 4.5 feet

• Mature Width: Approximately 4 feet

• Growth Habit: Dense, upright, well-branched

• Growth Rate: Moderate

• Flower Color: Medium pink

• Bloom Form: Semi-double

• Bloom Size: Approximately 2.5 inches across

• Bloom Season: Spring, summer, and fall

• Foliage: Glossy deep green with purple fall and winter coloration

• Foliage Type: Evergreen to semi-evergreen depending on climate

• Light: Light shade to full sun

• Ideal Sun Exposure: Approximately 4-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Soil: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil

• Water: Moderate; keep consistently moist while establishing

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6a-10b

• Pollinator Friendly: Yes

• Maintenance: Low to moderate

• Year-Round Interest: Yes

Growing Conditions

Light Requirements: Autumn Carnation® performs well in light shade to full sun. For the strongest reblooming performance, provide approximately 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Morning sun with some protection from intense afternoon heat is especially beneficial in warmer climates.

Soil Requirements: Plant in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Like other azaleas, Autumn Carnation® performs best when soil conditions remain acidic and the root system is never allowed to sit in standing water.

Water Requirements: Water regularly after planting while the root system becomes established. Once established, provide deep supplemental watering during prolonged hot or dry periods.

Cold Hardiness: Autumn Carnation® is hardy into USDA Zone 6a, making it one of the more cold-tolerant Encore® Azalea selections.

Drainage: Excellent drainage is important for long-term plant health. In heavy clay soils, improve drainage or plant slightly above the surrounding grade.

Care Instructions

Watering: Water thoroughly after planting and maintain consistent moisture during the establishment period. Once established, water deeply whenever the upper soil begins to dry.

Fertilizing: Apply a fertilizer formulated for azaleas, rhododendrons, or other acid-loving plants after the main spring flowering cycle. Avoid heavy fertilization late in the growing season.

Pruning: Autumn Carnation® naturally develops a dense, attractive form and generally requires minimal pruning. If shaping is necessary, prune immediately after spring flowering to avoid reducing summer and fall blooms.

Mulching: Apply approximately 2-3 inches of mulch around the root zone to conserve moisture, moderate soil temperatures, and suppress weeds. Keep mulch slightly away from the main stems.

Planting Depth: Plant with the top of the root ball at or slightly above the surrounding soil level. Azaleas have shallow root systems and should not be planted too deeply.

Landscaping Uses

Flowering Hedges: Autumn Carnation® is especially well suited for informal flowering hedges thanks to its dense growth and approximately 4-foot mature width.

Foundation Plantings: Use along home foundations, beneath larger windows, or around porches and entryways for multi-season color.

Mass Plantings: Plant several together for a dramatic display of medium-pink flowers during spring, summer, and fall.

Mixed Shrub Borders: Combine with gardenias, camellias, hydrangeas, loropetalum, ornamental grasses, and other evergreen shrubs for layered landscape interest.

Specimen Plantings: Its abundant flowers and attractive winter foliage make Autumn Carnation® beautiful enough to stand alone as a landscape focal point.

Woodland Edges: Use in areas transitioning between sunny landscape beds and lightly shaded woodland gardens.

Containers: Autumn Carnation® can be grown in large decorative containers with acidic, well-drained potting soil.

Pollinator Gardens: Multiple bloom cycles provide an extended source of flowers for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators.

Frequently Asked Questions

How large does Autumn Carnation® Azalea get?
Autumn Carnation® typically matures approximately 4.5 feet tall and 4 feet wide, forming a dense, upright, well-branched shrub.

What color are Autumn Carnation® flowers?
The flowers are an attractive medium pink with a ruffled, semi-double appearance.

How large are the flowers?
Individual flowers measure approximately 2.5 inches across.

Does Autumn Carnation® bloom more than once?
Yes. It produces its primary bloom in spring and then reblooms during summer and fall.

Does Autumn Carnation® stay evergreen?
Autumn Carnation® is considered evergreen, although foliage retention can vary somewhat in colder climates. Its leaves also develop attractive purple coloration during fall and winter.

Does Autumn Carnation® need full sun?
No. It grows from light shade to full sun. Approximately 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day generally produces the best combination of healthy growth and repeat flowering.

Can Autumn Carnation® grow in afternoon shade?
Yes. Morning sun followed by afternoon shade is an excellent exposure, particularly in hot southern climates.

What type of soil does Autumn Carnation® prefer?
It performs best in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil similar to the conditions preferred by other azaleas and rhododendrons.

How far apart should I plant Autumn Carnation® Azaleas?
For individual specimens, allow approximately 4 feet between plants. They can be positioned somewhat closer when creating a continuous flowering hedge or screen.

When should Autumn Carnation® be pruned?
If pruning is necessary, trim immediately after the main spring flowering period. Pruning later may remove developing buds and reduce subsequent flowers.

Is Autumn Carnation® cold hardy?
Yes. It is recommended for USDA Zones 6a-10b and is among the Encore® varieties suitable for colder Zone 6 landscapes.

Is Autumn Carnation® good for hedges?
Yes. Its dense, intermediate-size growth habit makes it particularly well suited for flowering hedges and informal screens.

Is Autumn Carnation® Azalea easy to care for?
Yes. When provided acidic, well-drained soil, adequate moisture, and sufficient sunlight, Autumn Carnation® is a relatively low-maintenance evergreen shrub that provides color during multiple seasons.