Autumn Fire Encore Azalea (3 Gallon) - Red Double Blooms Dwarf Evergreen Shrub

The Encore Azalea Autumn Fire, the brand new addition to the Encore Azalea Collection in 2016, is a dwarf azalea that packs a powerful punch. With its rich, blazing deep red, semi-double velvety blooms that stand out boldly against the dark green evergreen foliage, this azalea will enhance your landscape. In the winter, the Autumn Fire's foliage will change color to a deep purple-bronze, adding interest to your winter garden.

The compact growth habit and dwarf size of this azalea make it very easy to care for, requiring very little pruning. To ensure optimal growth, choose a location in your landscape that will receive 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, and dig a hole twice as wide as the container it arrived in. Mix in a well-drained, slightly acidic garden soil, and fertilize your Encore Azaleas every spring with a slow-release acidic fertilizer to keep the blooms coming all season long.

As an evergreen shrub, the Encore Azalea Autumn Fire is a reblooming azalea that will give you months of beauty instead of weeks. Once the deep red blooms have blossomed, you will quickly see what the Encore craze is truly about. These evergreen shrubs make an excellent foundational growth plant and grow well in mass, reaching sizes of 2.5' H x 3' W.

The Encore Azalea Autumn Fire can be used as a focal point around the yard and garden to accentuate entries with its dense growth habit. In the spring, summer, and fall, the beautiful blooms of deep red will become a host to several visitors, such as butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.

Autumn Fire requires little pruning to retain its form and does not need to be deadheaded. If you would like to prune your azaleas, be sure to do so immediately after the spring flowering. Once well established, light pruning may facilitate growth and flowering in future seasons. However, it's crucial to avoid fall pruning, as you will be removing buds that have begun setting for the next blooming season.

The Autumn Fire is hardy in USDA zones 6a-10b. For best flowering, choose a location that receives 4-6 hours of full sun. In the early years, water regularly, especially during dry periods. Like all azaleas, these grow well in acidic soil with a maximum pH of 6.5, but they prefer a lower pH, around 5.5.

The Autumn Fire is shipped as a 3-gallon potted plant with soil from the Alabama Gulf Coast. It is not guaranteed to be in bloom on arrival, and this plant is unavailable for shipment to Hawaii and Alaska.

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