Autumn Royalty® Encore® Azalea - 3 Gallon

Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea - Purple Reblooming Evergreen Shrub | 4-5 Feet Tall, Individual Plants

Experience award-winning purple blooms three seasons a year with the most celebrated azalea variety available. The Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea is a hardy, award-winning evergreen shrub that has become the most recognized reblooming azalea after being voted Azalea of the Year by the American Rhododendron Society. This exceptional large flowering shrub has become one of the larger Encore Azaleas with proven performance from Miami to New Jersey. With its vibrant pink-purple blooms that flourish for months and rich evergreen foliage that stays bright green in winter, the Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea transforms ordinary landscapes into spectacular garden displays that bloom in spring, summer, and fall. The compact rounded habit reaching 4.5 feet tall and 4 feet wide along with exceptional tolerance for temperature extremes creates year-round visual interest while providing reliable reblooming performance. Unlike traditional azaleas that bloom only once, these award-winning Encore varieties provide continuous floral displays that actually intensify with proper establishment and care.

Why You'll Love the Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea

Impressive Size & Impact: Growing 4 to 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide at maturity makes this the perfect choice for low-maintenance hedges, specimen plantings, foundation plantings, and dramatic landscape accents where substantial presence is desired.

Triple Season Blooming: Plant 2-3 feet apart for hedges and they quickly establish to provide enchanting pink-purple blooms from spring through fall with months of continuous color. These award-winning shrubs have proven performance in diverse climate conditions.

Outstanding Climate Tolerance: Hardy in USDA zones 6-10, thriving in both sun and shade while tolerating temperature extremes from Miami heat to New Jersey cold. Once established, these azaleas provide reliable year-round evergreen beauty.

Award-Winning Performance: Voted Azalea of the Year by the American Rhododendron Society due to exceptional toughness, bloom longevity, and adaptability - perfect for gardeners seeking proven excellence with minimal maintenance.

Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea Details

• Botanical Name: Rhododendron × 'Conlec' (Autumn Royalty Encore)
• Type: Evergreen reblooming shrub
• Mature Size: 4-5 feet tall × 4 feet wide (compact rounded habit)
• Growth Rate: Slow rate with 40+ year lifespan under ideal conditions
• Light: Full sun to partial shade (4-6 hours direct sunlight preferred)
• Soil: Slightly acidic, consistently moist, well-drained soil
• Water: Regular watering; requires consistent moisture but not waterlogged
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Growing Conditions

Soil Adaptability: Prefers slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5-6.5) but will adapt to natural soil even if sandy or heavy clay as long as it's well-draining. Very fussy about soil conditions and requires excellent drainage.

Light Requirements: Needs 4-6 hours of direct sunlight or all-day lightly filtered sun for best bloom potential. Too little sun will result in reduced flowering performance.

Hardiness: USDA zones 6-10, making it suitable for most temperate regions with exceptional tolerance for both heat and cold extremes.

Care Instructions

Watering: Keep soil moist but not over-saturated during establishment. Provide consistent moisture throughout growing season while avoiding waterlogged conditions.

Pruning: Prune immediately after spring blooming season for best reblooming performance. Light pruning to maintain desired shape as needed.

Fertilizing: Fertilize in late winter or early spring with acidic fertilizer formulated for azaleas to give upcoming blooms a boost.

Landscaping Uses

Versatile Applications: Autumn Royalty Encore Azalea's substantial size and triple-season blooms make it suitable for: low-maintenance hedges, specimen plantings, foundation plantings, mass plantings, container gardens (large containers), and mixed shrub borders.

Hedge Excellence: Plant 2-3 feet apart center to center for informal hedging that requires minimal maintenance while providing months of spectacular purple blooms.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far apart should I plant Autumn Royalty Encore Azaleas for a hedge? Plant 2-3 feet apart center to center for hedging. For specimen plantings, space 3 feet apart center to center to allow for mature growth.

Do they really bloom three times per year with purple flowers? Yes, this variety provides enchanting pink-purple blooms from spring through fall with vibrant purple blooms that flourish for months throughout the growing season.

Are Autumn Royalty Azaleas truly cold hardy and heat tolerant? Exceptionally tolerant of temperature extremes, thriving from Miami heat to New Jersey cold in zones 6-10, making them suitable for diverse climate conditions.