Autumn Royalty® Azalea Purple

Let's Grow

About Encore® Autumn Royalty™ Azalea

Purple has long been considered the color of royalty and Autumn Royalty™ Encore® azaleas will lend an elegant and luxurious feel to any garden thanks to their rich, purple flowers. Unlike other azaleas that only bloom in spring, Autumn Royalty™ are reblooming azaleas that are densely covered with bright purple, trumpet-shaped flowers. Those blooms are large, measuring about 2 ½” to 3 ½” wide, and they first emerge in spring. But after those initial flowers fade, Autumn Royalty™ will bloom again and again throughout summer and well into fall. If you’re tried of drab azaleas that only bloom once a year, Autumn Royalty™ will enliven your garden with color all season long!

Autumn Royalty® Azalea Purple
Botanical Name	Rhododendron ‘Conlec’
Plant Hardiness	Zone 6-9
Mature Height	4-5'
Mature Width	4'
Sun Needs	Full Sun, Partial Shade
Does Not Ship To	AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, PR

Like other azaleas, Autumn Royalty™ is an evergreen plant that will keep its dark green leaves through winter too, providing winter interest and shelter for wildlife in the cooler months. This azalea variety has larger leaves than some other azaleas and it is also one of the most heat and sun tolerant cultivars you can find. No wonder it’s a top choice to grow in southern gardens!

While azaleas are very hardy, they do grow best in acidic soils. If your neighbors happen to keep rhododendrons and azaleas in their yards, it’s a good sign that you’ll be able to grow azaleas too. However, if you have alkaline or neutral soil, you can amend your soil with a soil acidifier or keep your Autumn Royalty™ azaleas in pots. These plants grow to about 4 to 5’ tall, making them a perfect size for container growing or inground beds. Sow your azaleas as an attractive specimen plant or grow a few azaleas together for a garden bed that’s absolutely bursting with color!

Special features:

• Repeat blooms in spring through fall
• Vivid flower color
• Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators
• Adaptable to full sun or part shade
• Evergreen foliage
• Great for small spaces and container growing

Autumn Royalty™ Encore® Azalea plant care

Azaleas are relatively pest-free plants and they are adaptable to a range of growing conditions. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just learning how to grow azaleas this year, these plants are easy enough to keep as long as you provide them with the correct growing conditions.

When to plant azaleas

Ideally, azaleas should be planted in the spring or autumn when temperatures are cool. Autumn Royalty™ azaleas can also be planted in summer, but they are more likely to suffer planting stress at this time. To avoid this, be sure to keep your new plants well-watered.

Where to plant azaleas

For the most part, the best place to plant azaleas is in an area of your garden that receives full sun to part shade. Autumn Royalty™ azaleas have greater sun tolerance than many other azaleas types; however, in very hot gardens, they will grow best when kept in an area that receives some afternoon shade.

Gardens with sandy and slightly acidic soil will provide the optimal azalea growing conditions, but you can also keep azaleas in gardens with alkaline or neutral soil if you don’t mind applying a soil acidifier from time to time.Ideally, pH levels should be around 6.5 or lower, but if you have more neutral garden soil, you can also mix chelated iron into your garden beds in spring and autumn. This product will help azaleas better absorb nutrients and prevent pale leaves and other signs of nutrient deficiencies.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to bother with adjusting soil pH levels, you can also try planting azaleas in pots. Autumn Royalty™ azaleas are just the right size for container growing and potted azaleas look striking when added to backyard patios, balconies or other small space gardens.

Caring for azaleas in containers

Growing azaleas in pots isn’t difficult as long as you choose an appropriately sized planter. At a minimum, pots should be at least 16 to 24” wide and they should have plenty of drainage holes at the base to avoid soggy soil and issues like root rot.

To plant your Autumn Royalty™ azaleas, fill your container with a well-draining potting mix that’s suitable for acid-loving plants and then bury your plant to the same soil depth that it was in in its nursery pot. After planting, move your potted azalea to an area of your garden that receives full sun or part shade. Azaleas in pots will need to be watered more often as soil will dry out quicker, but otherwise they have the same care needs as azaleas that are grown in garden beds.

How to plant azaleas

Before planting your Autumn Royalty™ azaleas in your garden, dig a hole that is as deep as your nursery pot and 2 to 3 times as wide. Blend compost or aged manure with your soil if you want to enrich your garden and provide your plant with an extra nutrient boost, then backfill your planting hole. Depending on your taste, Autumn Royalty™ azaleas can be planted singly in ornamental beds or you can group them together for an even more colorful display; however, plants should be spaced at least 3’ apart.

After planting, keep your new azaleas well-watered. Unlike many other ornamentals, azaleas don’t wilt dramatically when they get too dry, so it can be difficult to know when they need to be watered. That’s why following a regular watering schedule is the best way to keep your azaleas happy. For optimal growth, water your azaleas so that the soil stays evenly moist, but never soggy. Adding an organic fertilizer that’s suitable for azaleas will also encourage your plants to produce more flowers and boost growth too!

How big do azaleas get

When fully mature, Autumn Royalty™ azaleas will grow about 4 to 5’ tall by 4’ wide. This size is just right for container growing or adding a little extra privacy to your garden space. Since azaleas keep their leaves all year round, they can be used to create a dense screen around your property or provide shelter for birds in winter!

History of Autumn Royalty™ Encore® Azalea

Azaleas are native to Asia and many wild azaleas can be found in shady, wooded areas.   These plants are well-known for their evergreen leaves and colorful flowers, which have made them very popular with botanists and gardeners. In fact, over the years, over 10,000 different azalea cultivars have been developed with a wide variety of different characteristics, such as different flower colors and leaf sizes.

The famous plant breeder Robert E. Buddy first released Encore® Azaleas in the 1980s and they’ve been a favorite choice among gardeners ever since. Unlike previous azalea varieties, these plants bloom again and again for season long color.

There are more than 30 different types of Encore® azaleas today, but Autumn Royalty™ azaleas are one of the most colorful cultivars. These plants were named for their deep purple flowers that are the color of royal robes. Ever since they were first released, Autumn Royalty™ azaleas have made a big impact in the gardening world. In fact, in 2004 they were named the Azalea of the Year by the southeast chapter of the American Rhododendron Society!

Buying Encore® Azaleas at Our Nursery

All of our azaleas come directly from the original breeder and they are produced from stem cuttings to preserve the characteristics that are unique to Autumn Royalty™ azaleas. Plants are shipped in sturdy nursery pots and are ready to be planted right in your garden. All you need to do is plant your azalea and wait to be rewarded with gorgeous, season-long blooms!